# Fooling Highway Speed Cameras Pranksters Use Fake License Plates for Revenge By Sandra Winn | Published 2008-12-22 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/student-pranksters-use-fake-license-plates-for-revenge References: [futurismic](http://futurismic.com/2008/12/22/the-price-of-revenge-pranking-speed-cameras/) & [thenewspaper](http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/26/2632.asp) Highway [speed cameras](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/car-speed-test) are meant to slow down those with a lead foot, lest they risk being ticketed. However, a few student pranksters from Maryland are using them for [mean-spirited pranks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/innocean-berlin). They are cloning license plates from vehicles of someone who has gotten under their skin. The students then take a fast-pass joyride down the highway with their fake license plates and, a few weeks later, their victim receives a ticket in the mail. Isn’t 21st Century punking just grand? I doubt the ticket would stick. You may be able to fake a license plate but you cannot do the same for make and model. Still, the victim would have to go through the pain-in-the-butt process of clearing their name--which probably makes the prankster feel rather successful. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.2/10 - Popularity: 7% | Activity: 52% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Fake License Plate Trend:** The rise of fake license plates for pranks or malicious purposes may disrupt the effectiveness of highway speed cameras. - **Revenge Trend:** The use of fake license plates for revenge may lead to the development of countermeasures for combating such pranks. - **Anti-surveillance Trend:** The use of fake license plates may indicate a growing trend of individuals trying to circumvent surveillance technologies. ### Where This Applies - **Law Enforcement:** The trend of fake license plates may require law enforcement to adopt more advanced technologies for detecting and preventing such pranks. - **Auto Industry:** The auto industry may need to develop anti-counterfeiting measures to prevent the fabrication of fake license plates. - **Surveillance Industry:** The rise of fake license plates may create new opportunities for surveillance technology companies to develop more advanced detection systems. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Anti-Theft Car Immobilizers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/antitheft1.md) - [California-Inspired Apparel Drops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/boys-lie-license-plate.md) - [Investigation-Focused License Plate Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/investigative-tool.md) - [Paintball-Shooting Security Cameras](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paintcam-home-security-system.md) - [Cheeky Electric Vehicles Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/koda-hijacks-competitors.md) - [AI Prank Calls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/prankify-ai.md) - [Fake Message Generators](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/phone-gags.md) - [Interactive Prank Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scratch-reveal.md) - [High-Definition Dash Cams](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/highdefinition-dash-cam.md)