Drivers are increasingly using fraudulent license plates, often purchased from online marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon, to evade taxes, tolls, and law enforcement. This trend creates a pretext for increased surveillance, as police use automated license plate readers (ALPRs) to flag suspicious tags. While authorities frame this as a crackdown on violent crime and uninsured drivers, it also victimizes innocent people whose legitimate plates are cloned, subjecting them to erroneous fines and investigations. The proliferation of fake plates, some of which are obvious novelties, highlights a systemic failure in vehicle registration and tax collection. Despite some jurisdictions banning online sales, the problem persists, demonstrating the ease with which drivers can operate outside the legal system, creating a vicious cycle where surveillance is pitched as the only solution.