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#: From / Date: Question / Answer:
6403. Drake
LA, CA
Age: 34
Sep 13, 2009
German Privacy March
Berlin - Ze Germans marched on their capitol to show politicians how much average citizens care about privacy.

Comments at the end of the article start out naive, uneducated and down right stupid - then improve when the adults arrive on the scene.


Submitted Link #1: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20090913-21897.html...

6402. Ron
Albany, NY
Age: 30
Sep 13, 2009
Licensed Professions and Privacy
I'm a teacher (and I really like my job!) and a graduate student. My profession requires, amongst other things, being licensed by the state (background checks including fingerprints were required).

I bought your "How to be Invisible" book. It's pretty good and I've already done most of the "Level One" suggestions, but it doesn't really address some specific privacy concerns professionals face - like how once you're in the system to minimize the damage (I'm not quitting teaching anytime soon, for instance).

I can't do much of the stuff you describe since it's vital for my career that things I write in journals are linked with my name (since that's the name my advanced degrees are in). Still, I'd really like the University to have less access to my information especially after some recent events. I did some research in a controversial area. Some people in the school didn't support this research, and now basically everyone who's an employee has access to my address, name, SSN. Unexpected fiasco. For the future, if I continue on a similar line of research, I don't want an address on file in case they ever decide to sue me for libel in England. I'm absolutely serious. They do this kind of thing at my University to shut people up. Very petty people.

So if you'd be so kind as to put in some tips for those of us, by virtue of our profession (doctor, lawyer, teacher) are in the system in your next edition and really can't quit, that'd be nice. I'd buy it. Again.

... The obvious solution is to MOVE. Then, hide that new address. Keep giving your old one, or another one. Never get mail at the new address, or allow any delivery whatsoever. Nada. Zip.

6401. Iris
King George, VA
Age: 40
Sep 12, 2009
Re #6400 - Non DMV locations
Don't know if it will help, but back in 2003 there were businesses in California that would handle the titling and such. Basically the customer was giving them a power of attorney to register the vehicle. I don't remember them asking for any ID. Since moving to the east coast; I know that Maryland also has these type of businesses. You may have better luck if such a business exists in your state.

6400. Robert
Santa Fe, NM
Age: 34
Sep 12, 2009
Titling a car like in HTBI: where is it still possible?
I'm having a hard time planning exactly how to accomplish vehicle anonymization which sounds so easy from HTBI.

Here in NM, and apparently in many other states too, based on my research, if you walk into the DMV with nothing but your LLC papers, the seller's title signed over to the LLC, and a bill of sale, like you did in WA (which was the example you mentioned in your book), you'll get laughed out of the building.

Can you give a list of some states other than WA which you know for sure don't require proof of insurance, proof of the buyer's address, physical availability of the car so a VIN and odometer inspection can be performed, and ID of the person who shows up in person to do the titling and registering even though the buyer is an LLC?

Maybe even a state which allow the entire process to be done by mail, so I never have to show up in person? Depending on what information and documents are required by mail, I think this would be a perfect solution for many HTBI readers.

In short, following the example in HTBI would require me to go to WA. I'm looking for an easier way--either a closer state, or a state where I can do it by mail. Even if none of the other states you know about are closer for me, it would still be worthwhile to list them for the benefit of other readers who might be in or close to them.

By the way, here for question #4270, you said about FL, "I have always been asked for ID, either when registering a vehicle in the name of an LLC, or when renewing the annual tabs. However, the clerk just looks at my passport and hands it back with no comment." This worries me; I'd be at the mercy of the clerk's whims and the local policies of the particular DMV office I go to, and I have no way to know whether he'll photocopy my ID after I hand it to him. I'm looking for states like WA where ID isn't required at all.

One final thing on this topic, question #3673 asks, "any suggestions for WA residents to go about still licensing a vehicle in an LLC with an out-of-state address?" In your response you say, "If you have a WA driver's license, however, it appears you may be stuck." But why does it matter whether you have a WA license, if you don't have to show it when titling and registering? Or has this, too, changed since you wrote the HTBI example in 2004? My license isn't from WA, but if I have to show it in order to prove that, then it might get photocopied, so WA would be yet another unsuitable state.

On a different topic, do you know of any insurance company, in any state, which will insure an LLC-owned vehicle without requiring an SSN or driver's license from anybody? Or is this an impossible dream in today's USA?

... I do not have a state-by-state list, but normally I hear complaints only about the New York DMV.

As for ID, this bothers you more than me. The registration will show only the LLC name, not your name.

As for Washington state, when you list a Canary Islands address for an LLC, the DMV will want a local address as well UNLESS the driver is from another state (as I am).

Some states require more data when the car will be in a big city, than if in a small town.

If you still have questions, please include an e-mail address.

6398. Dorothy
Topeka, KS
Age: 40
Sep 10, 2009
#6396 - Illinois plates
Since you're so close to Wisconsin, is there any chance you could switch the plates to a Wisconsin ghost address and apply for that city sticker as a long-term visitor? Or perhaps just move to Wisconsin? Did the police who wrote the license plate down actually take any action on it? Did they issue you a ticket for failure to register the vehicle? Have they asked you yet whether you're "living" in Illinois? Do they appear to be watching you? Do they know where you work? Can you travel somewhere on the weekends for awhile in order to establish plausible deniability regarding where your "permanent" state residency is?

6397. Seth
collbran, co
Age: 50
Sep 10, 2009
Car registration
Bob wrote: Imagine this: a car and driver both licensed in Ohio have lived in an Illinois town for 2 years at a "private" address. The town has a "sticker" (i.e. tax for owning a vehicle) and the police recently took interest by writing down the car's license plate (which leads to an LLC with an Ohio ghost address) when the garage door was open and the car was visible from the street."

I would need more information. Specifically, what is the language in the town's "tax" statute? If the language says that any "resident" must pay the tax on a vehicle owned by him, then your plausible argument is "I don't own the vehicle, it's owned by the company I work for, and they allow me to use it. It's licensed in the state where the company has its offices, and therefore, under the "Full Faith and Credit provisions of the US Constitution, Illinois is compelled to honor the registration of the vehicle from Ohio. Therefore, because I am not the owner of the vehicle, I am not required to pay the tax, and because the owner of the vehicle does not reside or operate a business in the town, it is not obligated to pay the tax."

If, on the other hand, the ordinance requires such a "sticker" for any vehicle inside the city limits for some statutory length of time, then I'd argue equal protection violation if that tax is not levied on ALL vehicles entering the town, regardless of their stay. Or I'd get the sticker in the name of the LLC that "owns" the vehicle, using a bogus letterhead from the "President" of the company that authorizes you to deal with the paperwork.

6396. Bob
Libertyville, IL
Age: 40
Sep 10, 2009
Car registration
Imagine this: a car and driver both licensed in Ohio have lived in an Illinois town for 2 years at a "private" address. The town has a "sticker" (i.e. tax for owning a vehicle) and the police recently took interest by writing down the car's license plate (which leads to an LLC with an Ohio ghost address) when the garage door was open and the car was visible from the street. Is the best solution to get a local (or nearby) Illinois town ghost address and transfer the car and driver to these new addresses? The IL DOT requires 'proof' of residence with the DL application (e.g. utility bill, rental agreement). Unfortunately, this also means the ghost address becomes closer to the "private" address, at least in the case of the DL. I have no talent for getting local ghost mail addresses, so am afraid I will have to rent a tiny apartment just to get a ghost address for the DL; this isn't even a good option because it ties the car and driver. This must be a common problem--any recommendations? I should probably live out in the boonies where there are no sticker taxes, but I choose to live close to work (self-employment not feasible in my line of work).

Thanks! I have given out a number of copies of your HTBI book to friends, family, and colleagues.

6395. Tom
Denver, Colorado
Age: 64
Sep 9, 2009
Otto Private Vault response
No ID is required. Provisions are made for a password for a designee to access the box (executor, etc.). I don't recall the insurance provisions. I imagine they are the same as any safe deposit box where the content is unknown. I remember that there was a provision that the boxes will not be used to store drugs, explosives, or stolen goods. They provide a private room within the vault to access you box. There is a guards on duty 24/7 and personal there during business hours. Box holders have 24 hour access.

Submitted Link #1: http://www.24-7privatevaults.com/...

6394. john
Coastal NC
Age: 49
Sep 9, 2009
Separate LLCs for vehicles?
Should each auto be in its own LLC? I'm talking 4 autos. My wife, son, daughter & myself. Any thoughts on this?

... I have a number of vehicles myself and each is titled in its own LLC. That way, if the LLC name that one vehicle is titled in becomes known, a search for other vehicles in the same LLC name will come up blank.

Also, if you wish to switch vehicle owners around, it is easier to do so by transferring the LLCs rather than the car titles.

6393. Otto
Pasadena, CA
Age: 41
Sep 9, 2009
Private Vaults
Thank you, Tom. I have some brief questions for you.
A] What happens to the items in the vault if you die? The iris scan seems to prevent friends or family from retrieving your belongings in that situation.
B] What information was requested when you signed up for this service?
C] Were any restrictions given as to what you can store there, and how do they insure compliance? (I ask this because it is the first sign of intrusion I can think of.)
D] Must you schedule your visits or can you show up at the facility unannounced - literally 24/7?
E] How did you hear of this type of service, and of this company? What moved you to test it?

Thank you for sharing. This is informative. The answers may help flush out Big Brother or reveal His methods...


6392. jay
Phoenix, AZ
Age: 35
Sep 9, 2009
Geico - private insurance cards
Here's a boon for insurance with Geico: I signed up a couple months back VIA a Tracfone telephone and paid the policy VIA a MoneyGram transfer at Walmart. I switched to them because I had never used them before and I had successfully gotten some privacy procedures in place, including titling my vehicles in NM LLCs. I had used a ghost address as my physical location even though I wanted all mail to go to my PO box, but they made the physical address my mailing address by mistake. I left it that way for months, but just recently switched my mailing address to my PO box because they kept sending mail correspondence to the ghost address. I just got the policy change documents back as a result of the address change and noticed that different from my previous policy documents that indicated my vehicles "would be" garaged at the physical location address I had given them, the following NEW statement was only the NEW policy documents, "The insured vehicle(s) will be regularly garaged in the town and state shown in item 1, except as noted in the Vehicle Segment". The Vehicle Segment section showed ONLY the city and ZIP code. Furthermore, the new ID cards I ordered (to see what they would show), list NO addresses! No physical address, no PO box address; just the vehicle and my name and my policy number. If I recommended a friend switch to Geico for these privacy benefits, and for some reason their insurance cards still have an address, I'd suggest calling and asking it to be removed for privacy purposes. Remember, law enforcement can access DMV records, so there is no reason an address should have to show on the insurance cards stored in the vehicle since a thief might be able to use this against you. Seems like a totally valid thing to ask for. This privacy benefit may require changing your mailing address with GEICO to a PO box, but all of us regular readers of this site have a PO box, right? Perhaps this is an Arizona "thing" as well, but I wanted to pass along this information...

6391. Atlas
Cumming, GA
Age: 42
Sep 9, 2009
Death of privacy, especially when online
Jack I am a big fan of your work! Longtime reader of HTBI. I thought everyone would be amused or interested in the adventures of Wired Magazine journalist Evan Ratliff. They held a $5,000 contest to see who could locate Mr. Ratliff while he attempted to "vanish" and still maintain his many online activities. By studying and learning how he was caught, I think this will serve as a good lesson about the methods other people could use to track you down by using contextual clues. Cheers!

Submitted Link #1: http://blog.newscloud.com/2009/09/how-we-caught-ev...

6389. TOM
DENVER, CO
Age: 64
Sep 9, 2009
PRIVATE VAULTS
I have tried a service in Vegas (24/7 Private Vaults). The service is anonymous. The security to enter is a key pad, iris recognition, and safe deposit box key. Your name is not attached to the account. I have tested it for a year, made 3 visits. I only store a few non-critical documents for the time being. It is reasonable and works well. Thet have boxes ranging in size from your 4" safe deposit box to gun safes.

My only concern is that big brother could be watching.

6388. Paul
San Francisco, CA
Age: 28
Sep 9, 2009
Pre-paid
#6383 Is there anyway to get the Amex(or anything) w/ a fictitious name/address on them. Most online purchases require name/address. This is in regards to purchasing an online membership of some sort w/ no deliveries to anywhere(E-harmony, market analysis, political, etc.).

6387. Stan
Atlanta
Age: 44
Sep 8, 2009
Low cost College
StraighterLine let students move through courses as quickly or slowly as they chose. Once a course was finished, Solvig could move on to the next one, without paying more.

In less than two months, she had finished four complete courses, for less than $200 total. The same courses would have cost her over $2,700 at Northeastern Illinois, $4,200 at Kaplan University, $6,300 at the University of Phoenix, and roughly the gross domestic product of a small Central American nation at an elite private university. They also would have taken two or three times as long to complete.

And if Solvig needed any further proof that her online education was the real deal, she found it when her daughter came home from a local community college one day, complaining about her math course.

When Solvig looked at the course materials, she realized that her daughter was using exactly the same learning modules that she was using at StraighterLine, both developed by textbook giant McGraw-Hill. The only difference was that her daughter was paying a lot more for them, and could only take them on the college’s schedule. And while she had a professor, he wasn’t doing much teaching. “He just stands there,” Solvig’s daughter said, while students worked through modules on their own.

Submitted Link #1: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/fea...

6386. john
Atlantic Beach NC
Age: 49
Sep 8, 2009
NC DMV LLC NC DL Required for title & tag
I'm stumped The NC DMV requires a NC DL for the sale or purchase of a vehicle LLC or not.
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance
John


Submitted Link #1: http://www.ncdot.org/dmv/vehicle_services/registra...

... Most if not all states require some sort of ID, although not necessary a local DL. (I show a passport each time.) However, I doubt that your name will show up when a license plate is run, if you title the vehicle with an LLC.

6385. Billson
New York, NY
Age: 44
Sep 8, 2009
re: #6383 Prepaid cards online
Clay, I checked out the AmEx giftcards today. The bank teller informed me that for amounts above $100, you have to buy them directly from AmEx. I took this to mean you have to use your own credit card to buy them. This gives you privacy from vendors you buy things from. But it does not give you privacy from the credit card companies and that is mainly what I am after. Any suggestions?

6384. Iris
King George, VA
Age: 40
Sep 8, 2009
kids and privacy
Marc-I homeschool my boys, but reading HTBI and dealing with a stalker has opended my eyes to how little privacy one has unless they make it a on going priority in their day to day life. I hope your tips will give others something to think about if they their kids are in public school.

6383. Clay
New York, NY
Age: 42
Sep 7, 2009
re: #6379 Prepaid cards online
See my post #6359. The Amex is great for any website where they do address verification, whether you're buying something shipped or online content. If they don't do address verification, any of the prepaid credit card / gift cards will work. How to know whether they do address verification? 1) Contact them via email or phone & ask. 2) Read their Terms and/or Privacy policies--they will often mention it in there. 3) Try it--get the Amex card, try to make the purchase without adding "personal info". If it doesn't work, then add the personal info. A private way to call 800 numbers (like the Amex customer service) without a pay phone--use VOIP at gizmoproject.com (either download the application or use the online keypad). All you need is headphones & any microphone that will plug into your computer. Calls to 800 are free & if you download the application, you can use a proxy server. Need internet connection faster than dialup, but nothing super speedy. Any wifi hotspot will do.

6381. Randy
Johnston, IA
Age: 45
Sep 7, 2009
College for $11 per Day (or Less)...
Re Wendy, #6371: I agree with JJ that many people should not attend college, but I also agree with Wendy that many people legitimately need/want to. Dr. Gary North insists that there are ways to get a college degree far more cheaply than most people do or imagine. Check the info at the link provided below and be sure to watch the short video (second line down).

Submitted Link #1: http://www.lowestcostcolleges.com/...


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