Does Rust-Oleum 214944 reflective spray really stop speed cameras from working?
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Does Reflective Spray Actually Work on License Plates? I Tested Rust-Oleum 214944.
Update. I’ve had 4 photo radar tickets.Ā 3 from before I applied this and one after.Ā The one after was in the daytime though so this obviously does not work in the daytime.
So, I was scrolling through Instagram when I came across a video that stopped me in my tracks. Someone sprayed their license plate with a reflective coatingāRust-Oleum 214944āclaiming it could mess with photo radar cameras. Naturally, I had to try it.
Hereās the backstory: over the past few months, my household has received three photo radar tickets. Two were mine, one was my wifeās. Each time, we were caught going about 11 km/h over the limit (thatās roughly 6.5 mph). Not exactly speeding demons, but enough to get dinged.
So, I ordered the same reflective spray from the video and set out to debunk or possibly prove whether it works. Spoiler alert: the results wereā¦ interesting.
The Test
I grabbed my trusty Sofirn IF30 flashlight, which cranks out 12,000 lumens, and shone it directly at my license plate before applying any spray. As expected, the plate was easy to read.
Then I applied the Rust-Oleum 214944. It went on evenly, dried fairly quickly, and once it cured, I hit it with the flashlight again.
The Results
There was a noticeable difference. Under the intense beam of the flashlight, the plate became far more reflective and a little harder to read, depending on the angle.
But hereās the thing:
I donāt think this is a one-and-done solution. Youād likely have to reapply it repeatedly to maintain any effect. Over time, rain, dirt
On it’s own, Rust-Oleum 214944 might not be the complete solution.Ā You will need to clean the plate thoroughly before applying the Rust-Oleum 214944Ā but it certainly won’t hurt your chances.
Does Rust-Oleum 214944 work during the day?
No. I’ve had one photo radar ticket since applying it, and it happened during the day. The reflective effect only does something under strong direct light ā like a flash or infrared beam at night ā so daytime cameras aren’t affected the same way.
How long does the effect last?
Not permanently. Rain, road grime, and general wear will wear it down over time, so realistically you’re looking at reapplying every so often to keep any effect going, not a one-time fix.
Is this legal?
This varies by location, and I’m not a lawyer. Some areas have specific rules about anything that alters a plate’s visibility or reflectivity, separate from whether it actually fools a camera. Worth checking your local laws before applying it ā this post is documenting my own test, not a recommendation to modify your plate.
Does it stop laser or radar guns (not photo cameras)?
I haven’t tested that specifically ā my results are based on photo radar/flash-triggered cameras only. Don’t assume this does anything for handheld radar or laser enforcement.
A quick disclaimer: this post documents my own personal test, not a guarantee. Rust-Oleum 214944 is a reflective coating ā it’s not marketed or designed as a radar-defeating product, and my results were mixed and daytime-ineffective. Altering your plate’s reflectivity may not be legal where you live, so check local regulations first. Use at your own judgment.
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