Legal Brief: When Evading the Surveillance State Goes Too Far
February 17, 2026
Security Business Magazine
Types : Bylined Articles
While you may have seen ghost plates on the CES show floor, don’t expect to use them legally in most states.
The famous line, “Give me liberty or give me death,” was uttered on March 23, 1775, during a speech by colonist Patrick Henry, imploring a revolution against Great Britain. The line became a rallying cry for the American Revolution, encapsulating the determination for independence. This famous phrase, “Live Free or Die” – officially the state motto of New Hampshire – was first voiced by General John Stark, New Hampshire’s most distinguished hero of the Revolutionary War.
Both statements seem a little drastic. Can’t we find a happy medium between liberty and death? Really? How about “give me some regulation, but not too much!”
In real life, governments have to regulate citizens. The issue is whether they do so fairly, proportionately, and without abrogating our fundamental rights.
Sometimes, citizens do not appreciate being regulated, and they fight back. For Patrick Henry and General Stark, that meant war. For modern-day Americans, it can mean more mundane resistance.
One recent example is the use of ghost plates. These are altered, obscured, or fake license plates designed to evade detection by traffic cameras (like ANPR) and law enforcement. They often use reflective coatings, clear covers, or manipulated characters to disappear under infrared light or become unreadable.
The goal is to avoid tolls, tickets, and hide illegal activities.