Bond fans, take notice: 007’s license plate flipper from Goldfinger has finally been invented. Frankly, we’re a bit confused as to why it took so long. Goldfinger came out in 1964, and hell, I’m sure people were coming up with ways trick traffic cops long before that. Perhaps it’s not first flipper that’s ever been invented, but with a flip speed of 1.2 seconds, there’s a good chance that it’s the fastest.
For those of you who have been eagerly awaiting the day this thing arrived, we’re happy to say, yes, you can actually buy this thing. More cautious consumers, however, should probably take a minute to consider the possible legal issues associated with using such a device.
The laws differ from state to state, but no matter where you are it’s a safe bet that concealing your license plate (or using a fake one) will get you some sort of penalty if you’re caught. But then again, the whole reason this thing exists is to make sure you don’t get caught, so it all depends on how you use it. The manufacturer warns on its webpage that it “discourage the use of [its] product to avoid red light cameras, beating red light cameras, or avoiding toll booths or toll cameras.” Is it just me, or do those all sound like great ideas?
It goes on to suggest a few legal uses on the product’s website – stuff like keeping your plate clean when you go out mudding, or perhaps showing off at a car show – but we all know this thing is intended for nefarious purposes. They made it for all of you dissident drivers out there, all of you who know that license plate readers are only one small part of the ever-growing surveillance state. All disclaimers aside, the flipper is just another tool you can use to conceal yourself from Big Brother’s watchful eye.
