# I saw a bizarre Mississippi license plate. Why would that state allow it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 25, 2021, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-bizarre-mississippi-license-plate-why-would-that-state-allow-it/933737 "2021-02-25T18:25:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-bizarre-mississippi-license-plate-why-would-that-state-allow-it/933737/1 "2021-02-25T18:25:14Z")
I saw a state of Mississippi license plate today that seems strange. It had crimson trim, a stylized letter A as used by the University of Alabama, and Roll Tide at the bottom. Why would Mississippi make a license plate supporting the University of Alabama? ---
**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-bizarre-mississippi-license-plate-why-would-that-state-allow-it/933737/2 "2021-02-25T18:34:22Z")
Because they can charge a premium for the plate? Most if not all states offer specialized license plates for various groups. The choices available in Mississippi [https://www.dor.ms.gov/TagsTitles/Pages/License-Plates.aspx](https://www.dor.ms.gov/TagsTitles/Pages/License-Plates.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-bizarre-mississippi-license-plate-why-would-that-state-allow-it/933737/3 "2021-02-25T18:36:23Z")
You can also get an Ole Miss plate in Alabama. [https://revenue.alabama.gov/motor-vehicle/license-plate-information/collegiate-license-plates/university-of-mississippi/](https://revenue.alabama.gov/motor-vehicle/license-plate-information/collegiate-license-plates/university-of-mississippi/) ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-bizarre-mississippi-license-plate-why-would-that-state-allow-it/933737/4 "2021-02-25T18:36:36Z")
The State of Alabama has a license plate for [Ole Miss](https://revenue.alabama.gov/motor-vehicle/license-plate-information/collegiate-license-plates/university-of-mississippi/); turnabout is fair play. (Alabama also has [license plates](https://revenue.alabama.gov/motor-vehicle/license-plate-information/collegiate-license-plates/) for Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana universities, while [Mississippi](https://www.dor.ms.gov/TagsTitles/Pages/License-Plates.aspx) has plates for the University of Memphis, Louisiana State University, the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and the West Jones High School, among others.) Basically, somebody got a group together that received approval from the relevant state, who will collect the fees. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-bizarre-mississippi-license-plate-why-would-that-state-allow-it/933737/5 "2021-02-25T18:36:43Z")
Apparently, you can also get LSU plates in Alabama [(per the state)](https://www.dor.ms.gov/TagsTitles/Pages/License-Plates.aspx) I’ve got to check again. I see Mississippi State University in the list, I don’t see University of Mississippi (Ol’ Miss) in the list. D’oh! There it is. Gotta get better at my reading skills. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-bizarre-mississippi-license-plate-why-would-that-state-allow-it/933737/6 "2021-02-25T18:36:55Z")
> [@Santos\_L\_Halper](#): > > Because they can charge a premium for the plate? Most if not all states offer specialized license plates for various groups. Yep. No more or less than this. Mississippi also sells license plates for Louisiana State University alumni, University of Memphis alumni, and more. [https://www.dor.ms.gov/TagsTitles/Pages/License-Plates.aspx](https://www.dor.ms.gov/TagsTitles/Pages/License-Plates.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-bizarre-mississippi-license-plate-why-would-that-state-allow-it/933737/7 "2021-02-25T18:39:42Z")
I just looked on Maryland’s MVA site - I could get a University of Alabama tag here. It’s a $25 fee on top of the registration. They’ve got 70-some pages of organization tags from all over the place. ---
**Author:** ![Falchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Falchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falchion)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-bizarre-mississippi-license-plate-why-would-that-state-allow-it/933737/8 "2021-02-25T18:42:24Z")
Here in Virginia ([apparently](https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/vehicles/#splates/category.asp?category=C)) you can’t get Alabama, but you can get Auburn… ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-bizarre-mississippi-license-plate-why-would-that-state-allow-it/933737/9 "2021-02-25T18:45:52Z")
In Wisconsin, you can get a Packers license plate, with the Packers’ “G” logo at the left side of the plate. Some enterprising fans of rival teams, who live in Wisconsin, have gotten creative with their use of that plate: [![](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5a/f6/80/5af680cb8c8349370200c603a91e4379.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5a/f6/80/5af680cb8c8349370200c603a91e4379.jpg) [![](https://i.imgur.com/GXG3rNx.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/GXG3rNx.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Falchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Falchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falchion)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-bizarre-mississippi-license-plate-why-would-that-state-allow-it/933737/10 "2021-02-25T18:48:49Z")
My favorite Virginia example ([which was revoked in 2009 for advocating cannibalism and pedophilia](https://richmondbizsense.com/2011/01/10/dmv-not-amused-by-this-liscene-plate/#djPop)) was: [![](https://s31832.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/eatthekidsfirst.jpg) ](https://s31832.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/eatthekidsfirst.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-bizarre-mississippi-license-plate-why-would-that-state-allow-it/933737/11 "2021-02-25T19:33:47Z")
Bravo @Falchion; that’s excellent! Florida has a **[23-page pdf](https://www3.flhsmv.gov/tagbrochure/tagbrochure.pdf)** brochure listing all the fancy-pants plates they sell. So far all the colleges are in-state. But apparently since the legislature had nothing more pressing to do in 2020 they’ve authorized a bunch of new plates that will go into production once some threshold number of people pre-order them. **[That list](https://www.flhsmv.gov/motor-vehicles-tags-titles/personalized-specialty-license-plates/specialty-license-plates/pre-sale-data/)** includes Auburn University, U of Alabama, and U of Georgia. Which three so far show no sign of getting enough orders to meet the threshold. Though I admit I’d never heard of these potential new plates before hunting this info up for y’all, So maybe all the FL alums of those colleges are equally unaware. Assuming any of them can read of course. ---
**Author:** ![Tabco](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tabco/32/7644_2.png) [@Tabco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabco)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-bizarre-mississippi-license-plate-why-would-that-state-allow-it/933737/12 "2021-02-25T19:41:46Z")
Here in Oregon you can get UofO and OSU plates (with \*duck and beaver heads, respectively). Looks like you can also get plates for Linfield and Willamette, which are private colleges. Don’t think I’ve seen those in the wild, though. ETA: I thought the UofO plate would have its stylized ‘O’ but it’s actually the duck mascot’s head. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-bizarre-mississippi-license-plate-why-would-that-state-allow-it/933737/13 "2021-02-25T19:44:23Z")
I wonder which state has the largest selection. ---
**Author:** ![FastDan1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fastdan1/32/427_2.png) [@FastDan1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FastDan1)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-bizarre-mississippi-license-plate-why-would-that-state-allow-it/933737/14 "2021-02-25T20:00:52Z")
From [My Plates](https://www.myplates.com/design/personalized/passenger/small-star-black/), there are 450 different specialty plates you can get for Texas (including University of Alabama). Assuming I counted correctly. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-bizarre-mississippi-license-plate-why-would-that-state-allow-it/933737/15 "2021-02-25T20:02:30Z")
> [@Tabco](#): > > ETA: I thought the UofO plate would have its stylized ‘O’ but it’s actually the duck mascot’s head. My understanding is that the school’s licensing agreement with Disney over the mascot (which is, of course, based on Donald Duck) is that they can use the duck on in-state merchandise and such, but aren’t allowed to use it on merchandise that is sold outside of Oregon (and that’s where they usually use the O these days). An Oregon license plate would be the very definition of in-state merchandise. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-bizarre-mississippi-license-plate-why-would-that-state-allow-it/933737/16 "2021-02-25T20:08:04Z")
Interestingly, I looked up California licences plates for colleges, and they say the only one available is for UCLA. At least, they have the right school! ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-bizarre-mississippi-license-plate-why-would-that-state-allow-it/933737/17 "2021-02-25T21:37:34Z")
I couldn’t imagine Ohio tolerating a U.of Michigan specialty plate. And it turns out that the only collegiate ones are for in-state schools. Not sure if the rule requiring 150 signatures on a petition from people who say they’d buy a plate, would compel Ohio officials to issue a Michigan specialty plate.\* \*not sports-related, but I’ve been tempted to get that black Kentucky plate with the slogan “Coal Keeps The Lights On”. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-bizarre-mississippi-license-plate-why-would-that-state-allow-it/933737/18 "2021-02-25T22:35:55Z")
I hope the owner reapplied with the [Matal v. Tam precedent](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/16pdf/15-1293_1o13.pdf) to back them up. ---
**Author:** ![Falchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Falchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falchion)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-bizarre-mississippi-license-plate-why-would-that-state-allow-it/933737/19 "2021-02-26T16:23:42Z")
I don’t know if he reapplied. But I would think that the Court’s opinion in the [Sons of Confederate Veterans case](https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/576/14-144/#tab-opinion-3422823) would make it a challenge, but I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2021, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-bizarre-mississippi-license-plate-why-would-that-state-allow-it/933737/20 "2021-03-04T02:02:47Z")
In Georgia, you can get a University of Florida plate. Which, if you know anything about the Georgia-Florida rivalry, is like buying a “Go Israel!” T-shirt in Tehran. The DMV doesn’t care who you root for, the disloyal bastards.