Customer Reviews

Photo Blocker Spray

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(40)

 

 

Folks, please, please, please, PLEASE be aware that there are several types of these 'photo paints' on the market - some DO NOT work, others have proven effective under CERTAIN conditions and in only a few markets. Hence, this is why some folks say it works like magic, while others say it's a bunch of crap - I'm sure both are correct given their specific circumstances and product used. I live in Denver, and I've been caught by the photo radar van several times on the way to work (they're only allowed to photo inside the Denver city proper limits, not the suburbs by the way. I've also seen the Fox 31 Tom Martino report (since I live in Denver) - you can also watch it on YouTube if you so desire. You can also watch three other videos from different states (Oregon, New York, and another) that test the product and say it doesn't work. So what does this all mean. Probably that the type of camera equipment that the Denver Police department uses, and HOW they use it, and the type of photo paint you use may keep you from getting a ticket... in Denver. The vans in Denver take a bright flash both day and night and the flash is mounted on the side of the van about half way up - the flash goes off just before your car's front end reaches the back of the van, which by the way the van is parked directly on the side of the road about 3-4 feet from your passing car. I believe this type of scenario leads to the chance that you're plate may not be viewed properly in many circumstances when the spray is used and the flash goes off - just as the Denver Police tested and discovered. Now, as far as the traffic light cameras, I don't know if this would be effective - I wouldn't rely on it. I do know that I got "flashed" by a photo van a few months ago and did NOT get a ticket in the mail like I normally have before, so I assume it worked... who knows.
Also, as a few others have mentioned in their reviews, please keep in mind: I was at a start-up neighborhood Watch meeting where the district policeman comes and talks to the group for 1 hour and provides the Neighborhood Watch goodies, etc. After the meeting I asked him about the paint/license covers and their experience (he seemed pretty laid back and a good fellow...). He said that in fact they tested both out using their radar vans - and that most all city police departments that rely on photo radar test these items for both effectiveness and also what to look for - it's normal procedure. He said that the paint did in fact work under certain circumstances - not 100%, but it did sometimes work (he wouldn't elaborate on what circumstances it did work), and that the department has actually tested out different mounting angles of their flash devices and distance/picture times - I don't know what the results were as again he didn't elaborate - but that tells me that if these actions were fully effective he would have commented that these products do not work, etc. and save my money. He also mentioned that they can usually tell if someone has glopped on the photo spray over their plates - it's not illegal here, but it won't help your case if you're pulled over - it might be the difference between getting off on a warning and getting a ticket. Again, I would just say that if you live and drive in Denver, then you might be saved a few times from the nasty photo van, if you live elsewhere with different flash/camera equipment and different plates and camera angles, or for traffic light photo radar, then it might not be worth the investment/time. There are too many variables from the type of paint used, the background color of the plates/numbers, to the type of photo equipment and distances used - a wonder drug for some, a pure waste of money for others...

YouTube Denver Fox 31 Report: [...]

I generously sprayed this on my plate AND have a distorting cover over the plate. No, not to break any laws. But it is extremely annoying to receive those letters every time my Sunpass toll transponder is not detected even though it is in place and fully funded. Lo-and-behold I received a photo citation letter today saying I did not pay the toll. It will be retracted once I respond to them, but what an annoyance. The point, though, is that neither product worked. My plate was clearly displayed in the photo. Save your money. All this spray is is varnish to make the plate shinier. If you insist on trying this defense, save yourself some money and buy some spray varnish at Home Depot for a fraction of the price.

i bought the spray and it turned my plates yellow after a few weeks and i've received two photo tickets so far. I contacted the sellers and got no response. I did a little searching on the net and have found that the same thing has happened to dozens of people accross the country. Also, I went into my local paint shop and found out that the spray is just some type of acrylic spray paint.

Bought several cans of Photoblocker for our cars and it was a total waste of money. My wife now has 4 radar camera tickets in two months here in Maryland. Even though we treated her plates twice, that did not fool the camera. Save your money and slow down.

Mythbusters did a whole show on these products. They do not work. Save your money.

Got a ticket, my plate was clear as a bell on the picture, did not work.

There is a traffic camera near my office. One of my coworkers blew through the red light and got a ticket in the mail. I don't normally run red lights but I saw this product and thought I'd give it a try. I bought one can last summer and sprayed it on my license plates. I haven't run any red lights since then but the product turned my plates yellow. I live in Maryland and our plates are off-white with dark letters. Several people have seen my plates and thought I was from a different state. In fact, one fellow asked me about the weather in New Jersey. I just spent $40 to get new plates for my two cars. I'm sorry I bought this product.

Don't waste your money, this product doesn't work! I just got a speeding ticket in the mail from a stop-light camera, you can see my license plate clearly in the photo on the ticket... all their claims about "distortion" just aren't true. I even sprayed more heavily than the instructions called for. Of course, the company won't give refunds. Maybe the license plate covers work better, I guess I'll try one next since this product is worthless.

The PhotoBlocker Spray DOES NOT WORK!!! I purchased the product last year and just received a speeding ticket. I am normally very careful when it comes to speeding and red lights, but I slipped. I was going 76 km. in a 60 km. speed zone. I saw the camera flash, when I was leaving the intersection, but hoped I wouldn't receive a ticket. I am extremely disappointed with this product and would never recommend it to anyone. I did use the product in the way it was described on the can, but obviously this made no difference. Do not buy this product, it is a complete waste of money!!!

I purchased a can of PhotoBlocker and sprayed on my license plate, and took photos from different hights and angles, and compared the photos with my red-light ticket photos, and bought 2 cans of aerosol gloss clear coat spray at Wal-Mart (2.97) and Menards (1.99 on sale), here are my conclusions: it works when the flash is pointed at the plate; it will not work when the flash is pointed away from the license plate (unfortunately, Chicago cameras are pointed away from my plate--as seen from my ticketed photo); the gloss clear coat sprays (12 oz can) bought at Wal-Mart and Menards work the same as the Photoblocker I paid 39.99 (including handling and shipping); there is no difference (compared two plates sprayed with two different products). I think the right price for the Photoblocker (6 oz can) should be $0.99 per can not $29.99!