Getting the right car is the ultimate goal for many people. The truth is that choosing the vehicle that suits your needs best isn’t an easy task. For some people, owning a nice car is a sign of prestige. The same goes for vanity plates, or customized plates that spread certain message. Others, however, are happy with any combination of letters and numbers they randomly get.
However, even if you are ready to pay for such a plate, that doesn’t mean you can have anything written on it.
As per the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), if someone already owns the plate that you like, your request would be denied. The same thing happens if you ask for a customized license plate with something specific that is considered offensive.
Matt Pacenza, a teacher of English who resides in Salt Lake City, Utah, noticed a vanity license plate that he thought was extremely offensive.
Speaking to the The Salt Lake Tribune, he said, “It jumped out at me because of how aggressive and confrontational and political the message was. I’m used to personalized plates being whimsical or playful or personal: GOUTES or DOGMAMA or SKILOVE or something. This felt significantly different.”
After snapping a photo of it, Matt posted it on Facebook and Twitter with the caption, “Hey @utahdld, how does this plate I just saw not violate your guidelines?”
Hey @utahdld, how does this plate I just saw not violate your guidelines? #utpolhttps://t.co/zFDfm8IHxp pic.twitter.com/kt3S2KBh2z
— Matt Pacenza (@mattpacenza) January 9, 2020
Needless to say, reading the word DEPORTM on that person’s plate left many others confused as well. They agreed that what was written there was inappropriate. Among those who reacted on Matt’s photo was Senator Daniel Thatcher who assured everyone that he had contacted DLD and was waiting for a response.
Thank you for highlighting this. I’ve reached out to DLD. I’ll let you know when I have an answer.
— Daniel W. Thatcher (@SenThatcher) January 10, 2020
In a follow-up tweet, he further explained why he thought the license plate shouldn’t have been approved.
Tax commission is aware and investigating.
For clarification; A private citizen has a first amendment right to say offensive things. The State does not, and has rules about license plates. I believe those rules have been violated here.
Hopefully Tax Commission agrees.
— Daniel W. Thatcher (@SenThatcher) January 10, 2020
His then updated the situation and explained that the DMV was reviewing the issue and that based on the DMV’s guidelines for license plates, the plate should be recalled.
Apparently, the vanity was approved back in 2015 and Tammy Kikuchi, a spokesperson for the Utah Tax Commission which oversees the DMV in Utah, they didn’t now why it was approved and how it got through.
What are your thoughts on this? Please SHARE this with your family and friends on Facebook to see what they think.
Bored Daddy
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