Nevada License Plate Revoked for Defaming Californians

[ZLoth]

From Newsweek:

Nevada License Plate Revoked for Defaming Californians

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in Nevada has slammed the brakes on a license plate it believes has "defamed" everyone from California.

The license plate reading GOBK2CA–thought to mean "go back to California"–was revoked by Nevada's DMV in May, but the owner plans to appeal the decision this week, the Associated Press reported on Sunday.

FULL ARTICLE HERE

[SP Cook]

The message should be the state motto of Nevada, and about 10 other states.

Don't vote for what you fled. 

[Road Hog]

I guess TRMPSUX was already taken.

[SectorZ]

The message should be the state motto of Nevada, and about 10 other states.

Don't vote for what you fled.

I thought it was a myth that the people fleeing were bringing their politics with them?

[wanderer2575]

I assume there's no law prohibiting a bumper sticker that reads GOBK2CA or TRMPSUX or FCKBLM (all fully spelled out) or whatever, so this skirmish seems like a waste of resources.

Here's an idea:  Let's eliminate custom license plate numbers; everyone gets the six- or seven-character sequence pulled from the pile at random, like the old days.  Sure, the state will lose the money from the additional fees, but isn't that a small price to pay to be sure nobody is offended?

ETA:  I concede the differentiation between bumper stickers and government-issued plates.

[hotdogPi]

Here's an idea:  Let's eliminate custom license plate numbers; everyone gets the six- or seven-character sequence pulled from the pile at random, like the old days.  Sure, the state will lose the money from the additional fees, but isn't that a small price to pay to be sure nobody is offended?

A 5 5 [Florida orange] R G Y.

What makes you think random letters and numbers can't contain offensive words?

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I assume there's no law prohibiting a bumper sticker that reads GOBK2CA or TRMPSUX or FCKBLM (all fully spelled out) or whatever, so this skirmish seems like a waste of resources.

Bumper stickers are protected speech. License plate ownership is much more vague and thus those are different; it's why offensive ones can be denied in the first place, like vegans applying for "ILVTOFU" (I love tofu) and being rejected.

Minnesota had a controversy some years ago with a plate that said "FMUSLMS", which led to a system-wide review and revocation of several dozen vanity plates.

[wanderer2575]

Here's an idea:  Let's eliminate custom license plate numbers; everyone gets the six- or seven-character sequence pulled from the pile at random, like the old days.  Sure, the state will lose the money from the additional fees, but isn't that a small price to pay to be sure nobody is offended?

A 5 5 [Florida orange] R G Y.

What makes you think random letters and numbers can't contain offensive words?

Of course they can.  But when they're not culled out as a result of someone specifically requesting that combination, it avoids the skirmish.  Although I intended that remark as sort of tongue-in-cheek.

[kalvado]

Here's an idea:  Let's eliminate custom license plate numbers; everyone gets the six- or seven-character sequence pulled from the pile at random, like the old days.  Sure, the state will lose the money from the additional fees, but isn't that a small price to pay to be sure nobody is offended?

A 5 5 [Florida orange] R G Y.

What makes you think random letters and numbers can't contain offensive words?

Of course they can.  But when they're not culled out as a result of someone specifically requesting that combination, it avoids the skirmish.  Although I intended that remark as sort of tongue-in-cheek.

Once you ban custom plates, you are going to see people hunting for "good" combinations, and open up possibility for corruption.
Besides  this way media is busy with cheap scandals instead of some investigative work. keeps things nice and quiet beneath the surface.

[Big John]

Another revoked plate:

[SectorZ]

Here's an idea:  Let's eliminate custom license plate numbers; everyone gets the six- or seven-character sequence pulled from the pile at random, like the old days.  Sure, the state will lose the money from the additional fees, but isn't that a small price to pay to be sure nobody is offended?

A 5 5 [Florida orange] R G Y.

What makes you think random letters and numbers can't contain offensive words?

I think I've mentioned this here before, a few years back Massachusetts made "2WAT XX" plates, and I've seen at least 3. Sadly all driven by women who really should have read their plates out loud and asked for a new one.

[MATraveler128]

 

There was also this license plate that the New Hampshire DMV tried to revoke and Governor Sununu ended up basically telling the person that she was allowed to keep it.

[Scott5114]

Once you ban custom plates, you are going to see people hunting for "good" combinations, and open up possibility for corruption.

Isn't that just called "Delaware"?

[Henry]

There they go with that PC bullshit again!

Is nothing safe anymore?

[LilianaUwU]

This is literally Nineteen Eighty-Four.
–woman who never read the Nineteen Eighty-Four novel or watched the Nineteen Eighty-Four movie

[TheHighwayMan3561]

"PB4WEGO" license plate

That's pretty funny, because this summer watching Twins games I've had to repeatedly watch this Cenex gas station ad with two guys in the store staring out at a license plate that says "PB4WEGO" trying to figure out the meaning.

[Scott5114]

There they go with that PC bullshit again!

Is nothing safe anymore?

Macs are usually too expensive for state government.

[hbelkins]

A 5 5 [Florida orange] R G Y.

ASS ORGY? 

[hotdogPi]

A 5 5 [Florida orange] R G Y.

ASS ORGY? 

Yes. This is an infamous random plate that actually got issued.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I remember seeing a University of Virginia vanity plate that utilized the placement of the university's "V" swashbuckling logo in a clever way. The plate itself said "AGINA" which obviously slipped past the censors.

[Road Hog]

Never forget this classic:

[1995hoo]

A few years ago, I was behind a car with Virginia plate "MRCAFYA." I was surprised the DMV allowed that one.

I remember a Dr. Gridlock column in the Washington Post some years back with a debate over whether it was OK for a license plate to say something "SUX" (e.g., "VPISUX" or "UVASUX" or the like). Younger people treat that word as synonymous with "stinks." Many older people consider it more offensive. I seem to recall an older lady was complaining about those plates being allowed. I don't remember what the DMV's conclusion was, though I suspect they allowed them under a rule more or less similar to the "eggshell plaintiff" principle in tort law.

Regarding "EAT THE" on a kids-first plate, I recall news reports saying Virginia revoked that plate because they said it connoted oral sex. They got very heavy ridicule over that one. I don't know whether they reversed their decision.

[hotdogPi]

Regarding "EAT THE" on a kids-first plate, I recall news reports saying Virginia revoked that plate because they said it connoted oral sex. They got very heavy ridicule over that one. I don't know whether they reversed their decision.

The license plate is problematic even if taken literally, with "eat" having the definition that the Donner Party did or what was propsed in the original "A Modest Proposal".

[hbelkins]

A few years ago, I was behind a car with Virginia plate "MRCAFYA." I was surprised the DMV allowed that one.

I'm not getting it.

[1995hoo]

A few years ago, I was behind a car with Virginia plate "MRCAFYA." I was surprised the DMV allowed that one.

I'm not getting it.

"America! Fuck Yeah!"