# Really? A digital license plate? WHY? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 25, 2023, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-a-digital-license-plate-why/980340 "2023-02-25T04:14:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-a-digital-license-plate-why/980340/1 "2023-02-25T04:14:14Z")
> **[RPlate Digital License Plate | Reviver](https://reviver.com/rplate/)** > > Reimagined convenience, personalization, and safety. Find out how digital license plate technology is ready to improve your vehicle ownership experience. Only $20/month! What possible use is this? ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-a-digital-license-plate-why/980340/2 "2023-02-25T04:25:41Z")
Those are mostly targeted at fleet owners. People at companies managing a large number of vehicles that could be deployed ant multiple remote locations. Registration renewals, activation of plates on new vehicles and deactivation of cars leaving the fleet are all tasks that would be simpler to manage electronically from a central location. Also, at least one of the digital plate options I saw also included GPS tracking of vehicle use and location. If they can sell a few to individuals, good for them, I suppose. But it’s not the target market. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-a-digital-license-plate-why/980340/3 "2023-02-25T04:34:42Z")
It’s waterproof! ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-a-digital-license-plate-why/980340/4 "2023-02-25T05:11:48Z")
I’d be interested, but only if I can… after I speed past a cop… change the color, state and number on the plate. And please let me play with it on the road: have the numbers puff up like balloons and twirl around and then melt into a psychedelic landscape. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-a-digital-license-plate-why/980340/5 "2023-02-25T11:43:34Z")
I like your first idea a bunch. James Bond had 4 licenses plates on his 1960-whatever Aston Martin. I have … hmm … umteen jillion. As to pretty displays, I’d prefer the plate simply be blank. No reason to advertise my identity to every crazed yahoo on the road. If the cops want to check on me, presumably their tools can do so no matter what my plate looks like to mere mortals. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-a-digital-license-plate-why/980340/6 "2023-02-25T12:39:28Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > What possible use is this? You’re probably one of those luddites who won’t download the app\* for your toilet, either. Progress! Embrace it. \*Please tell me this doesn’t actually exist. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-a-digital-license-plate-why/980340/7 "2023-02-25T16:33:25Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > \*Please tell me this doesn’t actually exist. I didn’t find one (but it’s only a matter of time, now that you have written and published the idea online). However, I did find apps for finding a public toilet, which would be very useful. So thanks! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-a-digital-license-plate-why/980340/8 "2023-02-25T16:40:32Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > > [@beowulff](#): > > > > What possible use is this? > > You’re probably one of those luddites who won’t download the app\* for your toilet, either. > > Progress! Embrace it. > > \*Please tell me this doesn’t actually exist. - > **[SLT38| Luxury One-Piece Smart Toilet Mobile App & Remote Control](https://smartlivingandtechnology.com/products/luxury-new-design-one-piece-smart-toilet-mobile-app-remote-control)** > > Big promotion for you when buying SLT38| Luxury One-Piece Smart Toilet Mobile App & Remote Control today. One of the best selling in the market. Limited number of products. Hurry up! ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-a-digital-license-plate-why/980340/9 "2023-02-25T16:43:33Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > As to pretty displays, I’d prefer the plate simply be blank. No reason to advertise my identity to every crazed yahoo on the road. If the cops want to check on me, presumably their tools can do so no matter what my plate looks like to mere mortals Presumably a bystander’s report of the license plate number of a vehicle seen at a crime scene is at least sometimes of use in identifying the criminals. In some cases that may be true even if the vehicle so identified is that of another witness, even if it’s not the plate of the perpetrator. – I actually find mine useful in identifying my very common car in parking lots; I can often read the plate before I can look in the windows and see whether that’s my stuff in there. If it were electronic I would never quite trust it to be working. If it were electronic and connected, I also would never quite trust it not to have been hacked. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-a-digital-license-plate-why/980340/10 "2023-02-25T17:11:13Z")
Is there an app for joining the Luddites? ---
**Author:** ![3AxisCtrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/ecd19e/32.png) [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-a-digital-license-plate-why/980340/11 "2023-02-25T17:26:30Z")
> [@digs](#): > > … only if I can… after I speed past a cop… change the color, state and number on the plate. Gotta believe hackers are working on this. Hard to imagine it won’t soon be available. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-a-digital-license-plate-why/980340/12 "2023-02-25T17:40:30Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Is there an app for joining the Luddites? - I understand they have someone looking at the possibility of some research in the future to establish the desirability of planning a thorough investigation on the eventual adoption of a resolution of protest against encroaching technology. ---
**Author:** ![phs3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phs3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phs3)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2023, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-a-digital-license-plate-why/980340/13 "2023-02-26T03:19:08Z")
You don’t have a S\*\*\*bit and the app for it? ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2023, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-a-digital-license-plate-why/980340/14 "2023-02-26T06:01:58Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > Please tell me this doesn’t actually exist. Toto offers bidet seats with [wireless remotes](https://www.manybidets.com/product-category/browse-by-bidet-seat-control-options/bidets-with-wireless-remotes/). Can an app be far behind? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2023, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-a-digital-license-plate-why/980340/15 "2023-02-26T06:19:33Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Is there an app for joining the Luddites? Mail in a self addressed and stamped envelope along with a check for $8.00 and you’ll receive your application by mail within 6-8 weeks. If you’re under 18 years old, make sure to get your parent’s permission first ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2023, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-a-digital-license-plate-why/980340/16 "2023-02-26T13:27:01Z")
Great minds think alike! 😉 When I saw @pullin’s comment above I jumped right to Toto’s website, hoping to find an app . Great shitters BTW. The wireless remotes are old news; I’ve never had one, but I know they were available 10 years ago. I was actually surprised they don’t have an app … yet. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2023, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-a-digital-license-plate-why/980340/17 "2023-02-26T13:27:45Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > If you’re under 18 years old, make sure to get your parent’s permission first Offer void where taxed, licensed, or prohibited by law. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2023, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-a-digital-license-plate-why/980340/18 "2023-02-26T16:28:58Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Great minds think alike! So apparently… yes? What’s keeping them? After all, this is the country that invented the emoji. 💩 🚽 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2023, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-a-digital-license-plate-why/980340/19 "2023-02-26T16:58:40Z")
Toto is a Japanese company. The Japanese are rather fastidious about “clean” but aren’t much fussed about “sex” or “body parts”. So they might think the customers would be unwilling to touch their phones while using their thrones. I might also imagine they have more success making their remote control dunk-proof while the the lack of dunk-proofness of phones is the stuff of many memes and rueful stories. So them inviting the user to fiddle with their phone near an open water hazard might prove unpopular with the customers. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2023, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-a-digital-license-plate-why/980340/20 "2023-02-26T17:03:40Z")
I can understand plenty of reasons why a user might want one of these plates. What I can’t envision is any reason why a state might be inclined to allow them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-a-digital-license-plate-why/980340.md?page=2)