Depending on the state, your info can be public based on the plate number or the person/entity asking. For my part, I had my California plates blocked (confidential) at the DMV for many years up until recently. Had all of my DMV paperwork sent to a PO Box too. Sometimes it's just to make it harder for someone to be a stalker. If you've had a stalker, you'd understand. Sometimes it's -fuck you- I don't want you to see my underwear. I walk around with boxers on and sometimes people see them. Doesn't mean that I actively want people to know what color my chones are. The State that I live in now has a County code prior to the plate number so just by looking at my plate you could tell what County I'm in. Maybe that's a factor. What's actually alarming is when people put their HAM call sign as their plate. All of the info associated with that call sign (at least what was submitted) is available in a few seconds online.