Originally Posted by
ethernal
You're being a bit paranoid. First and foremost this would be illegal. In all scenarios, it doesn't make sense (the only possible exception is investigative journalist):
- Police would either work directly with the rental car company if they had a warrant, or if they did not have a warrant, this would not be admissible in court
- Licensed private investigators would likely never do this because it is illegal. If they did collect this evidence with the goal of using it in a legal setting, it would not be admissible in court.
- If the CIA or similarly equipped intelligence agency is trying to spy on you, they are going to be able to do that regardless of whether your name shows up a rental board
- An investigative journalist would at best have a civil suit on their hands if they released this information, potentially criminal depending on the jurisdiction and local laws. That said, it is possible it would achieve their objectives - but at a high personal and potentially professional cost.
- Corporate espionage - while it does happen - probably doesn't happen by spying on rental cars. This is doubly true in the era of the internet and electronically connected devices that are easily hacked.
- Your wife's divorce lawyer would never do this. Both because it is illegal, would not be admissible in court, and would likely get him/her disbarred if it was clear that they are the ones that requested this happen.
Just to make it clear, putting a recording device in the car without the rental company and renter's consent is no different than placing a video camera in a hotel room. These are not trivial crimes.
There are valid, reasonable reasons to be worried about hotels posting guest names and rental cars posting names on a board. None of the reasons you cited are reasonable concerns.
Yes, probably not an issue when dealing with reasonable, law abiding people. However, we do seem to have a fair number of people that choose to break the law and will go to all ends to invoke fear and/or harm for the strangest reasons. Taking steps to improve your sense of security, even as simple as walking on the opposite side of the street, can be useful. Seeing your name plastered over public areas can be nerve wrecking. I know some that travel under assumed names (not just celebrities) and have done so a few times myself. We can not trust everyone else to what issues we have in our lives.