What to Do If Your License Plate Accidentally Says Something NSFW

There’s likely a vanity plate you’ve seen online or in person that you will always remember. Maybe it was funny, witty, obscene, an obscure reference, or something else. Most of the time it’s probably safe to assume that it was intentional. However, that might not always be the case.

Randomly assigned license plates can resemble words or phrases their owners never requested, as was the case for a Florida woman who made headlines when she received a standard-issued plate reading “SQZ A55.”

So, what happens if you receive a license plate you don’t feel comfortable displaying? Learn what options drivers have and how states screen for inappropriate combinations.

What To Do If You Receive a License Plate You Don’t Like

While the federal government is responsible for vehicle standards, license plate numbering fall under state jurisdiction. Therefore, your options will depend on the state you live in.

Most drivers aren’t stuck with their assigned plate. All states have a process to replace standard-issued plates due to damage, loss or theft, or sometimes even if the owners find them embarrassing or offensive.

Qualification requirements will vary by state. The first step will involve contacting your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles, or the equivalent state agency that handles vehicle registration. You may be able to order a replacement online, or you may be required to do an in-person appointment.

You may be able to get a replacement plate for free, or, depending on your state, you may be required to pay a replacement fee. Whether the agency will waive the fee because it contains an inappropriate message is at the discretion of the person approving the request.

It is illegal to alter, cover, deface, or modify an existing plate. License plates are critical for public safety, as they are used by law enforcement for vehicle identification, toll collection, and parking enforcement and for identifying stolen vehicles.

How are License Plate Combinations Screened

Issues of vulgar license plates, especially non-vanity plates, are quite rare. Most states have safeguards to prevent certain offensive or inappropriate combinations from appearing. That includes references to profanity, sexually explicit language, hate speech, criminal affiliation or representation, and characters that could mislead law enforcement.

Automated filters are in place to catch these, sometimes in addition to human review by the person approving the request at the DMV or equivalent government agency. New combinations continue to be added to the banned list as language and slang change.

Don’t assume another state’s license plate laws and regulations will be the same in yours. Every state creates its own numbering system and review process, so the rules, replacement options, and even the letter combinations that appear on standard plates can differ.

When in doubt, contact your local DMV. Just be prepared to wait in a long line, of course.

Sources

• Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, “License Plates & Registration”
  American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, “License Plates”
  CBS Miami, “Squeeze what? A Florida woman is the talk of her town with a racy license plate she got in the mail“

The post What to Do If Your License Plate Accidentally Says Something NSFW appeared first on Family Handyman.

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