Modern motorists often face the need to protect their car from excessive attention of surveillance cameras. One of the most popular, although controversial from a legal point of view, is the plate-curtain. It is a device that allows the vehicle owner to hide the state registration plate at the right time, leaving it open the rest of the time. The market offers a variety of design options, from simple mechanical designs to complex electronic systems.
The popularity of such gadgets is growing, despite the tightening of the legislation. Car owners are looking for ways to avoid automatic speeding fines or entering toll areas. However, it is important to understand that the installation of such equipment carries not only technical but also legal risks. Car curtain This is not just an accessory, but an interference with the design of the vehicle, which can be regarded by law enforcement as an attempt to hide the identity.
In this article, we will discuss in detail what types of mechanisms exist for hiding numbers, how they are installed and what to expect from a meeting with the traffic police inspector. You will learn about the principles of electronic and mechanical systems, and why some drivers do this. This information will help you to weigh the pros and cons before buying.
Design features and principle of work
The basic principle of any device for hiding numbers is to block the visibility of the plate with symbols. Mechanical models work by physically moving the flap. This is usually a rotary mechanism or a retractable frame. In a closed state flip-frame It displays a clean surface or decorative stub, completely covering numbers and letters. In the open position, the number is visible standard.
Electronic variants use motorized drive. Control is carried out through a hidden button in the cabin or remote control. Such systems are often equipped with sensors that automatically open the curtain when the engine stops or, conversely, close it when moving. Electronic curtain It requires a connection to the vehicle’s on-board network, which creates additional vulnerabilities and potential electrical problems.
⚠️ Attention: Installing electric drives requires insertion into the vehicle wiring. Unqualified installation can lead to short circuit or failure of other electronic systems, which will not cover any warranty.
The quality of materials directly affects the life of the device. Cheap plastic machinery quickly fails under the influence of vibration and temperature changes. Metal structures, especially those made of stainless steel or aluminum, last longer but cost significantly more. It is important that the mechanism works silently and quickly, as the long procedure of opening a room can attract attention.
Types of devices for hiding numbers
In the market of automotive accessories, you can find several main types of designs. The choice depends on the budget, the model of the car and the desired degree of stealth. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages that must be considered before buying.
- 🔄 Flip frames: the most common mechanical variant. The number is fixed on a movable axis and rotates 180 degrees. In the closed state, the back wall of the frame is visible. Easy to install, but have a characteristic click when turning.
- 🔌 Electronic blind curtains: imitate the usual frames, but inside have movable lamellae. When the voltage is applied, the lamellae turn, opening or closing the number. They look aesthetically pleasing but are difficult to repair.
- 📉 Retractable mechanisms: number plate is hidden inside the bumper or special box. Require a deep revision of the body and are often used on tuning cars. They're considered the most secretive.
- 🎮 Remote systems: controlled by a radio channel. Allows you to open the room without leaving the car. Often combined with mechanical or electronic drives.
It is worth mentioning separately. infraredThey are not curtains, but they perform a similar function. They are equipped with powerful IR LEDs that “glow” the camera fixation, making the number unreadable in the photo. However, modern cameras have learned to filter infrared radiation, so the effectiveness of such devices is decreasing every year.
The Myth of Magnetic Curtains
There is an opinion that there are curtains on powerful magnets that can be pulled with your hand. In practice, such structures are extremely rare and inconvenient to operate, as they require physical contact with the car to activate.
Legal status and responsibility in the Russian Federation
The use of devices that hide license plates is expressly prohibited in the Russian Federation. The main normative act regulating this issue is the Code of Administrative Offences (Cao of the Russian Federation). According to Article 12.2, Part 4, the installation of devices or devices on a vehicle that conceal or impede the identification of state registration plates is punishable by a fine.
The fine is 5,000 rubles. In addition, the application of a security measure in the form of detention of a vehicle and its placement in a specialized parking lot is possible. This means that the driver will not only pay the money, but also lose time, as well as incur the costs of evacuating and storing the car. Administrative responsibility This occurs regardless of whether the device was turned on at the time of fixing the violation or not.
| Violation | Article of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation | Punishment | Additional measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installation of concealment devices | 12.2 a.m. 4. | Fine of 5,000 rubles. | Detention of TC |
| Management of the vehicle with an unreadable number | 12.2 a.m. 1 1 1 1 | Warning or fine 500 rubles. | No. |
| Installation of the number in an unspecified place | 12.2 a.m. 2 2 2 | Fine of 5,000 rubles. Or 3-6 months of disenfranchisement. | Detention of TC |
| Re-control with hidden number | 12.2 a.m. 4 (repeat) | Deprivation of rights for 4-6 months | Detention of TC |
Judicial practice shows that it is quite simple to prove the fact of using the device to the inspector. Even if the curtain is open, the mere fact of having a mechanism to close it is grounds for a fine. Courts, as a rule, side with traffic police, if the design of the frame is clearly different from the standard and has signs of mobility.
⚠️ Warning: Disclaimer is possible if the device is repeatedly infringed or if the number is installed in a non-standard location. Don’t risk your driver’s license for the sake of saving on fines.
Technical nuances of installation and installation
If you do decide to take the risk and install the curtain, it is important to understand the technical aspects of the process. Installation of a mechanical frame-inverter usually does not require drilling of the body, as it is attached to the regular holes. However, for reliable fixation, additional screws or sealants are often necessary, which can damage the paint coating.
Electronic systems are more complex. They require 12 volts of power to operate. Wiring must be pulled from the battery or block of fuses in the cabin. This requires dismantling the trunk lining or bumper. Hidden button The control should be installed so that it can be reached without being distracted from driving, but also so that it is not visible to outsiders.
☑️ Checklist before installation
Particular attention should be paid to the tightness of the compounds. Water and reagents from roads will quickly disable electronics if they are not protected by IP67 or higher. Mechanical parts need regular lubrication, otherwise the mechanism may jam from the ice in winter. The temperature regime of most Chinese analogues is limited to the range from -20 to +50 degrees Celsius, which is critical for Russian winters.
Use only copper wires with a cross section of at least 0.75 mm2 to connect motors. Thin wires can burn out or create a voltage drop, which is why the curtain will not open at the right time.
Comparison of efficiency and reliability
When choosing a device, drivers often compare mechanics and electronics. Mechanical curtains are considered more reliable in harsh conditions. They have nothing to burn out, no complex chips. However, they make a distinctive switching sound that can give the driver away with his head. In addition, the mechanics require physical effort or a cable drive, which complicates the hidden installation.
Electronic systems are quiet and convenient. One click of a button solves the problem. But in winter, gearboxes often freeze with the mechanism. If moisture gets inside, a short circuit can knock out the fuse or damage the control unit. Reliability of electronics It depends on the quality of the assembly and the price of the device.
In terms of camera stealth, both types work equally well if they completely cover the number. However, modern recognition systems can analyze the video stream in real time and record the moment of change in the geometry of the number. There are also mobile systems that read the number in advance, before the driver has time to react.
Mechanics are more reliable in the cold, electronics are more convenient to use, but both options have a high risk of failure at a critical moment.
Alternative ways to protect against cameras
Instead of installing banned devices, many drivers are looking for legal ways to minimize the number of fines. The most effective method is to follow the rules of the road. However, there are technical means that do not violate the law. For example, the use of navigators with current camera databases (Straz, Yandex.Navigator) allows you to reduce speed in advance.
It is also worth watching the cleanliness of the license plate. Mud or snow covering the room can cause a fine, but if they formed naturally on the way, this can be disputed. Regular washing and the use of water-repellent coatings help the room clean longer. Special sprays prevent dirt from sticking, making the number more readable for cameras, but less visible to human eyes at a distance.
Some drivers use tinting of the glass to the permitted limits so that the Vizier or Cordon cameras cannot clearly photograph the driver's face. This does not hide the number, but complicates the process of issuing a fine “in the face” and identifying the offender if the number was still unreadable.
Why IR lighting is no longer working
Modern cameras use filters that cut off the infrared spectrum, or take multiple shots with different exposures, choosing the one where the number reads best.
Can I drive with an open curtain?
No, you can't. The very presence of a device, the design of which allows you to hide the number, is a violation of paragraph 4 of article 12.2 of the administrative code of the Russian Federation. The inspector has the right to issue a fine and send the car to the parking lot even if the number is open at the time of the stop. Proving that you didn’t plan to close it will have to be in court, and success is not guaranteed.
How does the inspector prove the curtain?
The proof is a visual inspection, the presence of gaps, foreign wires, buttons in the cabin, as well as characteristic clicks when the mechanism works. Often a report of inspection of the vehicle with photofixation is drawn up. If the mechanism is jammed in the closed position, this is also recorded as a violation.
Are there any curtains that the camera can’t see?
Cameras see everything. The only question is whether the device will work before the moment of the picture. However, modern complexes record a violation continuously. Even if the number was opened for a split second, the system may not recognize it, but the video will retain the fact of manipulation, which will become evidence in court.
What happens if the machine is locked in the closed position?
This is a common problem, especially in winter. You will not be able to open the room at the request of the inspector, which will be regarded as deliberate concealment. The car is guaranteed to go to the parking lot until the circumstances are clarified or the malfunction is eliminated. Repair on site in the presence of traffic police is impossible.
Can I appeal against the curtain fine?
You can appeal, but it's difficult. Chances are if you can prove that the frame design is standard for this model of car (which is rare) or that the device did not function and was installed by the previous owner without your knowledge. However, the presence of a control button in the cabin negates these arguments.