this post was submitted on 19 Aug 2026
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Please do not call these devices license plate readers. They are surveillance tools with capabilities that far exceed that of normal license plate reading devices. It’s like calling an RPG a spear.
They are free electronic components and modules that can be used for your own projects. Just make sure they are completely erased and serial numbers removed before reusing.
Yeah, take home the solar powered GPS device with a built in cellular connection. See how that goes.
Put it in a metal tool box with the lid fully closed and leave it in the woods for a month first.
Crack it open and take out the GPS and cellular module.
Or relocate the entire unit to somewhere it will actually provide civic good like somewhere prone to Illegal Garbage dumping or as a trailcam for wildlife.
They tend to have tamper alarms and since the company has a working relationship with the local PD I don't really want to be playing engineer with a device like that.