You might have seen the Mythbusters episode where they try several methods to foil traffic cameras. If you didn’t, here’s a spoiler: they don’t work. However we think the above product, the NoPhoto, would be an exception… as long as the infraction occurs at night or the traffic cam uses flash during the day as well. The device is installed around your license plate, and detects when a flash is triggered, presumably from a traffic cam. It then triggers a precisely timed xenon bulb of its own which has the effect of overexposing the shot, ruining the picture and making your car unidentifiable. In principle, this should work. And in practice it does too. As a matter of fact, we’ve written about a product that uses the same principle before.
Jonathan Dandrow, the creator of the NoPhoto claims that
Traffic cameras are unconstitutional, because “if you do commit a traffic violation, you should have your constitutionally guaranteed right to face your accuser – and that your accuser should not win by default just because it happens to be a camera that can’t talk in court.”
His device is made in the USA, and (he says) it is legal to use in the US.
The NoPhoto’s basis for legality is that nothing is physically covering the plate. Yeah… we suspect that particular loophole might work for a while, at least until lawmakers re-write the bills to adjust for this technology. Still, until then, if you want yours, you can pledge to the Indiegogo project and get a NoPhoto for $200. This is $150 less than expected retail pricing.
[ NoPhoto Project ] VIA [ BoingBoing ]
