# What is offensive about this Vanity license plate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 2, 2021, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-offensive-about-this-vanity-license-plate/945542 "2021-07-02T22:17:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2021, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-offensive-about-this-vanity-license-plate/945542/41 "2021-07-04T05:44:57Z")
I interpreted it as “69 POUND HER.” There was a white supremacist who had a “ZYKLON B” plate for several years until someone saw that who knew what it was and turned him in, and a man I dated many years ago had grown up in North Carolina and said he once saw a plate that said “POONTANG.” > **[Zyklon B](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zyklon_B)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > > Zyklon B (German: \[tsyˈkloːn ˈbeː\] (listen); translated Cyclone B) was the trade name of a cyanide-based pesticide invented in Germany in the early 1920s. It consisted of hydrogen cyanide (prussic acid), as well as a cautionary eye irritant and one of several adsorbents such as diatomaceous earth. The product is notorious for its use by Nazi Germany during the Holocaust to murder approximately 1.1 million people in gas chambers installed at Au... ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2021, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-offensive-about-this-vanity-license-plate/945542/42 "2021-07-04T07:51:36Z")
Could be worse. The plate could have read “14 k of g in a f p d.” I once saw a flashy Corvette here in Hawaii with a vanity plate that read “VIAGRA.” Really. ---
**Author:** ![cytop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f17d59/32.png) [@cytop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cytop)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2021, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-offensive-about-this-vanity-license-plate/945542/43 "2021-07-04T09:19:36Z")
There’s a well known registration in the UK that comes up for auction every now and then … PEN 15 - seemingly it’s about £90,000. Another is ORG 45M which will cost you even more. While they do try and ‘pre-screen’ potentially offensive plates, both of these were issued some time ago (PEN 15 pre-1962, and the other in 1973/4 in Portsmouth) there’s always the problem that the DVLA (Vehicle licencing agency) will withdraw a plate that, shall we say, attracts complaints. Some years ago the plate ‘BO11 LUX’ was brought from the DVLA, some weeks later the purchaser gets [a letter from the DVLA](https://www.roadweb.uk/bo11-lux-plate-is-sold-by-dvla-then-banned/) telling him to remove it as they were going to ‘delist’ it because it was causing offence. He [won his appeal](https://metro.co.uk/2011/08/04/company-director-alan-clarke-wins-right-to-keep-bo11-lux-number-plate-103356/) citing the Sex Pistols album title ‘Never mind the …’ ETA: I honestly can’t remember hearing the expression when on that side of the water (or maybe I keep the wrong company) so for anyone needing some clarification - [here it is](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bollocks) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-offensive-about-this-vanity-license-plate/945542/44 "2021-07-26T23:32:04Z")
Years ago, when working in County Government, I saw a story about a bright colored, decked-out fancy car (Cadillac or BMW) with vanity plate “ON WLFR”. The driver got stopped a number of times, until one time he was taken to jail and the car impounded. He complained to the news media (from inside jail) that he was being targeted by police for his license plate. And they ran the story, thinking it a weekend attention-getter. But that complaint was a mistake for him. A fellow County employee recognized the name – she was in Child Support Collections, and he was a delinquent deadbeat daddy she had been trying to locate, or locate some assets. She was down at the City impound lot, with a Court Order to seize that car before he ever got before a Judge for a bond hearing. Vanity license plates go with the owner, rather than the vehicle, so the plates were left at the impound yard for him. But the car was gone, auctioned off, and the proceeds applied to his past-due child support. Never heard of the plates being used for any other vehicle. I expect the owner discarded them. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-offensive-about-this-vanity-license-plate/945542/45 "2021-07-27T01:54:13Z")
I just saw a picture of the license plate on a Maserati that read DUZ-18E5. Took a minute. ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-offensive-about-this-vanity-license-plate/945542/46 "2021-07-27T04:12:02Z")
Was it garaged somewhere with the owner unable to drive it? ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-offensive-about-this-vanity-license-plate/945542/47 "2021-07-27T07:17:47Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > The list keeps expanding. One expansion came when it was discovered that some plates were only ‘naughty’ when seen in a rear-view mirror. For example, we have **3M TA3** Yes, I really saw that once. In my rear-view mirror. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-offensive-about-this-vanity-license-plate/945542/48 "2021-07-27T07:45:28Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > For example, we have **3M TA3** > > Yes, I really saw that once. In my rear-view mirror. There was an independent cab whose owner lived in the high-rise apartment I once lived in. He had a license plate that read IXAT. This was a jurisdiction that required front license plates, so you could look at that in the rear-view mirror, and know immediately what purpose that car served. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-offensive-about-this-vanity-license-plate/945542/49 "2021-07-27T08:50:29Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > > [@bob\_2](#): > > > > The DVLA publishes a list of banned combinations each year. I wonder who compiles it? > > > > This is from 2020: > > > > > | AS20 HOL | GO20 HEL | BS20 TRD | > > > | --- | --- | --- | > > > | EU20 BAD | GB20 GUN | NO20 ARM | > > > | PE20 RVT | BO20 OCK | MU20 DER | > > > | NO20 JOB | TO20 SRR | MY20 MUF | > > > | GB20 FKD | BU20 GRD | MU20 GER | > > > > You may not be aware that UK plates follow a specific pattern: > > > > The first two letters show where the car was first registered. The two numbers show the age (which is why those in the list are all 20) and the last letters are random. > > There are a few of these that I can’t figure out what would be offensive: > |EU20 BAD| You Bad? My initial reaction was that it was considered too political: European Union (so) bad. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-offensive-about-this-vanity-license-plate/945542/50 "2021-07-27T10:37:19Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > What about this one? A few years ago a Canadian man, whose last name is “Grabher”, has had, for a long, long time, vanity plates with “GRABHER”. All was well until someone complained. I’ve lost track on the appeals process but here’s one article on it: > > [N.S. Appeal Court reserves decision on Grabher licence plate dispute | CBC News](https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5880109) A similar case here, with husband and wife putting their initials on the license plate, separated by “N” in place of “and”: > **[Initials JAP on car's plate causing flap in California](https://www.deseret.com/1997/8/27/19330672/initials-jap-on-car-s-plate-causing-flap-in-california)** > > Judy Ann Petty's initials are on her purse and her checkbook. The state wants them off her license plate because the letters spell an ethnic slur. For 11 years, Petty's license plate has read \`\`RAPNJAP,'' combining her initials with those of her... ---
**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:** [July 27, 2021, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-offensive-about-this-vanity-license-plate/945542/51 "2021-07-27T14:01:30Z")
[Yeah. He has a limo - rides in the back. Locks the doors in case he’s attacked.](https://genius.com/Joe-walsh-lifes-been-good-lyrics) ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-offensive-about-this-vanity-license-plate/945542/52 "2021-07-27T17:02:31Z")
Our [Florida’s] DMV has allowed regular (non-personalized) plates with the 3 letters **LSD** on them for decades now. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-offensive-about-this-vanity-license-plate/945542/53 "2021-07-27T20:11:32Z")
I sometimes see a large SUV around here with the vanity plate “GLB WRMR” or something like that. I assume that’s supposed to be read as “globe warmer”, and is meant to convey the message “My SUV is contributing to climate change, and I don’t care! In your face, environmentalists!” Ironically, it’s on the California [whale tail](https://www.coastal.ca.gov/whaletailplate/) specialty plate, so the money he’s paying for the plate is actually going towards environmental causes, albeit protecting marine life and cleaning up beaches, not anything climate change related. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-offensive-about-this-vanity-license-plate/945542/54 "2021-07-27T20:13:53Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > This was a jurisdiction that required front license plates, [side-track] California requires front plates. At least I assume it does, as all cars here have them. Oh wait a minute. A friend called to my attention, just a few days ago, that Teslas don’t have front plates. He even took me to a nearby hotel parking lot that has a row of half-a-dozen charging stations, occupied by a row of half-a-dozen Teslas. Only one of them had a front plate. Does anybody here know what gives? What’s the story on Teslas not having front plates? [/side-track] ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-offensive-about-this-vanity-license-plate/945542/55 "2021-07-27T20:25:27Z")
You and you’re friend apparently are far from the first to notice this. There’s quite a bit of discussion on this online. Upshot: Tesla’s don’t come with front plate brackets, so owners usually don’t bother to install their own brackets or display a front license plate, but that is actually illegal in California (and quite a few other states). It apparently just doesn’t get enforced very vigorously. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-offensive-about-this-vanity-license-plate/945542/56 "2021-07-27T20:46:46Z")
> [@gdave](#): > > You and you’re friend apparently are far from the first to notice this. There’s quite a bit of discussion on this online. Upshot: Tesla’s don’t come with front plate brackets, . . . Aha! In the time from my post to your response, I’ve been googling and reading up on this. There is indeed much on-line talky-talk, going back for several years. People think adding a front plate uglifies their beautiful Teslas. (From the one I saw, I agree.) The front simply isn’t designed with any good flat place for one. Furthermore, many people seem to believe (rightly? wrongly?) that adding a front plate will interfere with Tesla’s automatic everything sensors. Apparently, you’re right, it just isn’t vigorously enforced. It may depend on each local police department’s priorities. Or maybe if some cop just wants to be a dick about it. What “they” are also saying is, if you do get stopped for it, all you really get is a “fix-it” ticket anyway. One site (I think it was Quora) mentioned a variety of after-market add-ons available from Tesla and third parties to affix plate brackets. Maybe I read it wrong, but it looked like one option was to get a stick-on decal of your plate, which has the advantage that you can smooth it on and it follows the curves of the front end. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-offensive-about-this-vanity-license-plate/945542/57 "2021-07-27T21:00:04Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Apparently, you’re right, it just isn’t vigorously enforced. When I bought my Miata, I noticed it didn’t have a front license plate bracket. I asked the salesman about it and he said could sell me one if I wanted, but most people just don’t bother putting a front plate on them. The official Mazda front plate bracket requires drilling holes in the bumper to install, so I bought an aftermarket one that screws into the tow hook port. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-offensive-about-this-vanity-license-plate/945542/58 "2021-07-27T21:43:15Z")
Saw an NC license plate reading KEPT BOI. It was a gold Honda CRV or somesuch. The driver was bald in front, pony tail in back and both hands full of cocktail rings. Wonder if he was the keeper or the boi, and how long that relationship had been going on … ---
**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:** [July 27, 2021, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-offensive-about-this-vanity-license-plate/945542/59 "2021-07-27T21:49:42Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > When I bought my Miata, I noticed it didn’t have a front license plate bracket. I asked the salesman about it and he said could sell me one if I wanted, but most people just don’t bother putting a front plate on them. When I bought my Mustang (2012), the dealer asked me if I wanted to have the front license plate bracket installed – apparently, the cars shipped with the bracket included, but not installed. As you note with your Mazda, it required drilling holes in the front bumper, but as I live in a state where front plates are (theoretically) required, I had it installed. Last year, my wife inherited her late father’s 2015 Corvette. He had lived in Florida, which doesn’t require front plates, and so, he’d never had the front bracket installed (and I think it was a separate option to even get one). My wife hasn’t had a front bracket put on, and still just has the rear plate; she has yet to run into any issues. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-offensive-about-this-vanity-license-plate/945542/60 "2021-07-27T23:16:00Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > There are a few of these that I can’t figure out what would be offensive: > |EU20 BAD| You Bad? > |NO20 JOB| No job? Nose job? > |BO20 OCK| I have no idea what this even means > |NO20 ARM| No arm? EU20BAD - yes, that’s about the EU being bad. Could ignite road rage incidents, so it’s probably fair to ban it (and EU20GUD or similar). BO20CK - Bollock, ie testicle The other two elude me. No 2 getting a job? No to… arms?? I didn’t know about the first two letters being a location tag - the numbers I had guessed, but the letters aren’t that obvious because although E + letters from A to Y is reasonably easy to work out, G stands for “Garden of England” and F is “Forest and Fens,” which are rather adorable really (they cover more than one county). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-offensive-about-this-vanity-license-plate/945542.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-offensive-about-this-vanity-license-plate/945542.md?page=4)