Oregon DMV declares last name offensive

[Hamradioguy]

Even in liberal old Vermont we have to deal with DMV nonsense. Years ago a member of a ski club, the Middlebury Rat Fink Association, applied for a vanity plate to read: MRFA. Nothing bad about that right? But when you apply for a vanity plate you have to explain just what the letters and/or numbers mean. The poor guy was honest and told DMV about his ski club. Instant uproar, as someone in the DMV decided that "Rat Fink" was a naughty word and so therefore the INITIALS themselves could not be used on the plate.

I seem to recall the applicant prevailed, but not before a long convoluted appeal process...and a huge amount of snickering from the press.

 

[Gurdur]

I think it means Weapon, not really sure why they were called that.

The SS roughly divided into two sections; the Waffen SS were the ones who fought in battle. IOW, the Waffen SS were the most heavily militarized (and also had better equipment than the regular army). The name Waffen refers to them being militarized for military battle.

 

[UnrepentantSinner]

I assume (note that word carefully) that dink may have come from the phrase "dinky(i) dau" for "bad".

Dinky Dao means crazy.

 

[TragicMonkey]

What's the point in worrying about license plates offending people when they can put any bumper stickers they want on their car? Those are a much broader avenue for offense because they aren't limited to garbled spellings, limited space, and convoluted initialisms. If I really, really want to tell total strangers on the road what I think about a political party or a brand of car or a race of people or a sports team, I can do it without the DMV.

It's like a city bylaw that you can't put political signs in your yard, but having no law against painting political signs on your entire house.

 

[Elizabeth I]

I find YKO-6L1 highly offensive, as well as YB1-X7X, and frankly most license plates in a xxx-xxx format, I think everyone who uses one should have it changed to satiate my freedom to not be offended by their plates.

And let's not forget any randomization that might lead to 13, 666, 911 or other numbers that might "offend."

What's the point in worrying about license plates offending people when they can put any bumper stickers they want on their car? Those are a much broader avenue for offense because they aren't limited to garbled spellings, limited space, and convoluted initialisms. If I really, really want to tell total strangers on the road what I think about a political party or a brand of car or a race of people or a sports team, I can do it without the DMV.

It's like a city bylaw that you can't put political signs in your yard, but having no law against painting political signs on your entire house.

Ah, but bumper sticker profits don't go into the public tax coffers. Or something.

 

[Walrus32]

I recall some years ago the story that California issued plates to a urologist: IV SKIN.

(Apparently, no one in the license bureau knew how to read Roman numerals.)

 

[strathmeyer]

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/blueplate/assorgy1.html

 

[Gaia]

I recall some years ago the story that California issued plates to a urologist: IV SKIN.

(Apparently, no one in the license bureau knew how to read Roman numerals.)

Just the thought of people's reactions eye-poppi) when they realize what those plates say makes me laugh.....

 

[Radwaste]

Some time ago, it was reported that Dr. Ruth's vanity plate was "4PLAY".

On her Honda Prelude.

 

[666]

And let's not forget any randomization that might lead to 13, 666, 911 or other numbers that might "offend."

... always willing to oblige.

(Although I've recently sold the car. )

 

[Professor Yaffle]

The German footballer Stefan Kuntz (am I going to have the mods on my back for this...?) had better watch out if he is in the US...