Six Ways to Avoid Red Light Cameras

With those pesky red light cameras propped up at dozens of intersections -- and possibly more to come -- the market for products to beat the system is growing. Some are gimmicks; others seem viable. None is foolproof. 

Here, a look at six ways you can try to evade those ticket-spewing Cyclopes.

The product: PhotoBlocker Spray

Why it might not work: Charles Territo of American Traffic Solutions, the company that owns and operates Florida's red light cameras, says these types of products have little impact on the camera's flash. In fact, Territo says, some sprays actually help reduce the glare of the sun and allow the camera to grab a clearer image of the license plate. Also, MythBusters busted the crap out of these sprays during tests of speed cameras, which are similar to red light cameras.

The product: Trapster

The claim: Red light cameras? There's an app for that. With nearly 15 million users, Trapster  claims to be "the world's largest driving community." The free app is designed to crowd-source the location of red light cameras, speed traps, and similar on-road nuisances. These are displayed on an easy-to-read map of whatever neighborhood you happen to be driving around in. Users can receive alerts when a trap is near, and they can also opt to have the app monitor their speed and provide an alert when they're over the posted speed limit.

Why it might not work: While the concept sounds awesome, a fair amount of users in Apple's App Store complain of the program crashing, incorrect information being displayed, the GPS not working, and the alerts coming too late. Some of these might be bugs that can be worked out with an update. But until then, it's best not to rely on this as your only defense.

The product: PhotoShield

The claim: PhantomPlate, the company selling this for $25, says PhotoShield is a "thin diffusional lens," which is jargon for a "plastic cover." According to the website, the cover allows the license plate to look normal when viewed from straight on, but it distorts the characters and makes them unreadable when viewed from an angle. Also, it was supposedly featured on an episode of CSI Miami, for whatever that's worth.

Why it might not work: Red light cameras are sophisticated pieces of technology that won't be fooled by a piece of plastic. Territo tells New Times that his company's cameras take images that are often as many as 16 megapixels. While megapixels aren't the be-all and end-all of photo clarity, it's a safe bet ATS invested in sensors and lenses that can work around a plastic holder.

The product: GPS Angel

The claim: This 2.5-inch-wide disc uses GPS to compare your whereabouts against a database of known camera locations. When a camera is near, a series of lights and beeps go off -- similar to those old-school radar detectors. At $79.99 and up, it's one of the more expensive options out there.

Why it might not work: It can't actually detect that a camera is posted on the corner, so it's useless if the database isn't current. That said, owners are given free lifetime updates to the database.

The product: Temporary plates/grime

The claim: A few messageboards include chatter about keeping those paper plates you get from car dealers on as a way of circumventing the all-watching cameras. There's also the option to cover your license plate with filth and mud to ensure it's unreadable.