# KY Resident requests "IM GOD" license plate. KY refuses, resident sues **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 23, 2016, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-resident-requests-im-god-license-plate-ky-refuses-resident-sues/772842 "2016-11-23T21:46:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-resident-requests-im-god-license-plate-ky-refuses-resident-sues/772842/1 "2016-11-23T21:46:14Z")
Story [HERE](http://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/kentucky-strikes-down-request-for-%E2%80%9Cim-god%E2%80%9D-license-plates/ar-AAkFp9i?li=BBnbfcL) Short version, Bennie Hart requests vanity plate in Kentucky, ‘IM GOD’. The Godless heathens of Ohio granted him that plate 12 years before, but he now wants one as a KY resident. Kentucky refused, first saying that is was "obscene or vulgar language ", then saying that it poor taste and could lead to confronation. > [@](#): > > A month later, Hart says state officials gave him a second reason: They claimed the “IM GOD” plates were in poor taste and could lead to confrontations with other people. (Which, let’s not lie, kind of seems like the point) Resident has sued and the ACLU has joined in. > [@](#): > > "Under the First Amendment, government officials do not have the authority to censor messages simply because they dislike them,” ACLU of Kentucky legal director William Sharp said, according to the AP. “And in this instance, personalised licence plates are a form of individual speech equally deserving of First Amendment protection.” > > In the suit, Hart says Kentucky’s claims that his religious beliefs are obscene or vulgar are “demeaning.” I have to side with State on this. I do not feel this is a 1st Amendment issue. (I am still googling to find the answer to the question “who actually _owns_ the plate”). If the State of Kentucky owns it, it is a no-brainer. No one has the _right_ to express themselves with Government property. if Mr Hart owns it, it is a little stickier, IMO. But each State sets up rules on what they will and will not allow on the plates they issue. That Bennie Hart wants this sentiment on his car is no reason for the State to issue it on a license plate.And his message is NOT being censored. Mr Hart is free to have ‘IM GOD’ on a bumper sticker. He is free to paint it large letters on the hood and door panels of his car. As to the claim that _the State_ is claiming Mr Hart’s religious views are obscene or vulgar, therefore demeaning him…this seems a little backward. It seems more to the point that KY doesn’t want to\* participate\* in Mr Hart’s demeaning of _other resident’s_ religious views. Just to be clear, if the State decides that they are OK with issuing such a plate, as Ohio obviously was, I am OK with that. But this seems like the State’s decision and not an individual’s right. But am I posting this for discussion, because I could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-resident-requests-im-god-license-plate-ky-refuses-resident-sues/772842/2 "2016-11-23T21:55:56Z")
I’ll bet they wouldn’t blink am eye if he wanted IM THOR. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-resident-requests-im-god-license-plate-ky-refuses-resident-sues/772842/3 "2016-11-23T21:58:56Z")
Other states have run into these issues. Because it is a 1st amendment issue states should stop issuing vanity plates because it could create real problems to allow anything on them. But I still want to get a plate with 3M TA3. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-resident-requests-im-god-license-plate-ky-refuses-resident-sues/772842/4 "2016-11-23T22:00:44Z")
I wonder if they would allow IM A GOD. ---
**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:** [November 23, 2016, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-resident-requests-im-god-license-plate-ky-refuses-resident-sues/772842/5 "2016-11-23T22:01:05Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > As to the claim that _the State_ is claiming Mr Hart’s religious views are obscene or vulgar, therefore demeaning him…this seems a little backward. It seems more to the point that KY doesn’t want to\* participate\* in Mr Hart’s demeaning of _other resident’s_ religious views. Just glancing at some of the Pledge Of Allegiance cases, it seems to me that he could use that same reasoning that the states used to allow the PofA to be allowed in public schools (as decided by the courts), such as: “a New Hampshire lower federal court which found that the pledge’s reference to God does not violate non-pledging students’ rights if student participation in the pledge is voluntary” –(Looking at the plate would be voluntary) “In a 2–1 decision, the appellate court ruled that the words were of a “ceremonial and patriotic nature” and did not constitute an establishment of religion” –(He could argue that “IM GOD” is just ceramonial and has nothing to do with religion) I’m sure there’s other cases and probably plenty of other things that have nothing to do with the PofA, but this, at least for me, is the low hanging fruit. However, I feel like there’s a separation of church and state thing in there somewhere, or rather a lack thereof. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-resident-requests-im-god-license-plate-ky-refuses-resident-sues/772842/6 "2016-11-23T22:07:17Z")
Bet $5, too, that the following plates are in circulation in that state: LUV GOD AMEN JHN316 BLESSD ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-resident-requests-im-god-license-plate-ky-refuses-resident-sues/772842/7 "2016-11-23T22:10:20Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I’m sure there’s other cases and probably plenty of other things that have nothing to do with the PofA, but this, at least for me, is the low hanging fruit. However, I feel like there’s a separation of church and state thing in there somewhere, or rather a lack thereof. Could it be argued that issuing the plate would be an endorsement of HIS religion. “He’s God, the State of Kentucky has put their stamp on it!” I wonder if Ky has any explicit religious plates. “1TRUGOD” or some such? Or conversely, “NO GOD”? ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-resident-requests-im-god-license-plate-ky-refuses-resident-sues/772842/8 "2016-11-23T22:18:10Z")
How do they know he’s not God? ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-resident-requests-im-god-license-plate-ky-refuses-resident-sues/772842/9 "2016-11-23T22:22:51Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > How do they know he’s not God? If he was God, he could command them to issueth the plateth. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-resident-requests-im-god-license-plate-ky-refuses-resident-sues/772842/10 "2016-11-23T22:35:12Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > How do they know he’s not God? Because the dead can’t apply for license plates. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-resident-requests-im-god-license-plate-ky-refuses-resident-sues/772842/11 "2016-11-23T22:40:40Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Bet $5, too, that the following plates are in circulation in that state: > > LUV GOD > AMEN > JHN316 > BLESSD I just checked plate availability at the website ( [License Plates | Personalized Plates | drive.ky.gov](https://secure.kentucky.gov/kytc/plates/web/LicensePlate/Index/d949ffb0-c06b-42a2-a865-2548f1460cf8#plateAnchor) ) and none of those are available, though it doesn’t say if its because they are taken or disallowed. I do find it interesting that KY plates say “In God We Trust” Finally, I had a lot of fun trying to find ways to sneak through dirty plates. “AHOLE” isn’t allowed, but “AH0LE” (zero for the O) was OK ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-resident-requests-im-god-license-plate-ky-refuses-resident-sues/772842/12 "2016-11-23T22:41:13Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > If he was God, he could command them to issueth the plateth. 16a _For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever issueth human an “IM GOD” license plate should not perish, but have everlasting life._ ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-resident-requests-im-god-license-plate-ky-refuses-resident-sues/772842/13 "2016-11-23T22:45:01Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > I do find it interesting that KY plates say “In God We Trust” So all this guy really needs is a plate that says TRST ME ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-resident-requests-im-god-license-plate-ky-refuses-resident-sues/772842/14 "2016-11-23T22:46:17Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > So all this guy really needs is a plate that says TRST ME Looks like it’s been done. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-resident-requests-im-god-license-plate-ky-refuses-resident-sues/772842/15 "2016-11-23T22:59:32Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I’ll bet they wouldn’t blink am eye if he wanted IM THOR. Well, maybe he thudent work out tho hard. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-resident-requests-im-god-license-plate-ky-refuses-resident-sues/772842/16 "2016-11-23T23:21:45Z")
I don’t see what the controversy is. IM God. Sure, why not? Or send email, or pray, or whatever. Lots of options these days. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-resident-requests-im-god-license-plate-ky-refuses-resident-sues/772842/17 "2016-11-23T23:30:48Z")
I wonder how Kentucky would feel about [A55ORGY.](http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/florida/assorgy-story) My friend tried to apply for “666INME” (in California) but was denied. He was upset because “666 NME”, a standard plate, was in use with no problem. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-resident-requests-im-god-license-plate-ky-refuses-resident-sues/772842/18 "2016-11-23T23:37:38Z")
Yeah, **Vinyl** , what’s offensive about telling people to send God an instant message? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-resident-requests-im-god-license-plate-ky-refuses-resident-sues/772842/19 "2016-11-23T23:39:32Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > IM THOR. You think _you’re_ thore, what about _me?_ ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-resident-requests-im-god-license-plate-ky-refuses-resident-sues/772842/20 "2016-11-24T00:24:26Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I’ll bet they wouldn’t blink am eye if he wanted IM THOR. The Thunder God went for a ride Upon his favorite filly. “I’M THOR!” he cried. The horse replied, “You forgot your thaddle, thilly.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-resident-requests-im-god-license-plate-ky-refuses-resident-sues/772842.md?page=2)