Plate-Hiding Gadget Targets Flock Cameras
Drivers in states that ban license plate covers should know the device is not on sale and would carry legal risk.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Car Culture
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YouTuber Studio Hotrods has designed a device that hides a vehicle's license plate from Flock cameras, using smart glass that turns opaque when the car passes a camera. The company is pursuing a patent for the device and is not selling it at this time.
Why it matters
Every state restricts license plate covers, and eight states, including Illinois, outright prohibit them, so drivers who obscure plates face legal exposure even as the technology draws attention. The concept reflects a growing tension over automated plate reading, with states now cracking down on license plate flippers.
License plate covers are illegal in eight states, including Illinois, where the test car is registered. Every state restricts covers, and states that allow them still require plates to be legible.
The players
Studio Hotrods
A YouTube automotive build channel that designed the plate-concealing device and is pursuing a patent for it.
The details
The device places smart glass over a license plate, which is clear when powered and opaque when power is shut off. An Arduino cross-references GPS location against a database of Flock camera locations stored on an SD card, and when the vehicle approaches a camera the glass turns opaque. During normal driving the smart glass receives power and stays clear, so the plate remains readable to people while the camera's scan is blocked.
Timeline
Jalopnik published its article about the device on October 31, 2026.
The Home Front
Automated plate-reading cameras such as those from Flock Safety are increasingly deployed by local authorities, and the device sits in the gap between that surveillance and state laws that already bar covering or flipping plates. States are now cracking down on license plate flippers, signaling that legislatures view plate-obscuring tools as a priority for enforcement.
If you own a vehicle, check your state's rules on license plate covers before using any obscuring product, since eight states ban them outright and all states require plates to stay legible. Keep your plate clean, fully visible, and properly mounted, and if you have questions about your specific situation, a licensed attorney in your state can advise you.
The takeaway
Plate-obscuring gadgets remain illegal in many places even when the technology is clever, so the safe choice is a clean, legible plate. Check your state's vehicle code before modifying how your plate appears.
Further reading
For more on the enthusiast scene behind builds like this, see Car Culture.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Jalopnik.
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