License Plate illumination

Help!

Any ideas on how I can get better illumination on my rear license plate. I have a light-on-the-bottom license-plate light that is very dim (similar to my IQ) and just doesn't light up my plate very well (not very visible at night). Also, my plate is at an angle that fits the contour of the rear deck which may make this project more difficult.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! - MUSBJIM

Jim,

I wouldn't change a thing! Bank Robbers cover their rear plates with mud, that is pretty good advice in case you are cruising to the max and a cop is trying to read your plate, he may run off the road!

Hey Jim, you have 3 shine-up lights there? Have you considered the lights? You can TRICK the illumination of the light by putting a bulb that has a slight lower voltage rating. Meaning the light will show up brighter. People have been putting 6V bulbs in 12V dash guages in British Cars for years.

Just a thought. Or maybe think about LED conversion?

Never heard of anyone being ticketed for "poor illumination" of a license plate, as long as a light was present and functional. Did you ever observe a restored '32 Ford or similar vehicle? Their original tailights, never mind the license plate light, are barely visible on a dark freeway at todays speeds. With all the red light cameras out there, maybe less is better.
I've used lighted license plate bolts (the light is built into the plate hold down bolts) for years with no problems.

Bruce - I don't know about mud on the plates, but I would definitely recommend anyone to avoid getting mud on their "helmet"!

Mike - Thanks for the great tech tip, I will try the "low voltage" route and if that doesn't work maybe some kind of LED fabrication.

David - Maybe you haven't seen my SOC pics, but the "bad cop" profiling manual has my picture in it. I've been pulled over for the most picayune reasons many times, because of my looks ("you fit the description of the ---- we're looking for")and not because I've been terrorizing the neighborhood streets with my Speedy's "monster 1835cc"! - Ever seen the movie "Crash"?

Driving a high-dollar vehicle through Newport Beach and Corona Del Mar (my neighborhood) with a mug like mine will also increase your chances of being pulled over. Those odds increase when my wife is with me (she's blond, I look like a Samoan thug). One time we were pulled over for some stupid reason, and the cop asked my wife if she was "alright".

Peace out!!

Oh, David, and another thing - if I was spotted driving a custom car as nice as yours through my area , the cops would probably think I had obviously stolen it and pull a "Rodney King" on me.

But like I always say, living well is the best revenge!!

I guess sometimes being a near bald, grey haired, near-sighted "senior citizen" does have it's advantages. I went through my "Corvette phase" starting about 40 years ago, I looked so young back then that the cops always thought I had someone elses car. You and I should get together sometime and compare stories from diferent generations. I suspect they are remarkably similar. I also admire anyone who can live in the greater LA basin and drive a stick shift. Seems like that would limit spirited driving to early weekend mornings? Here in San Diego, my wife is finally ready to give up her five speed Mustang for an automatic. Hurrah for "direct shift" and "Tiptronic" gearboxes!
It's not the destination, it's the trip!