When purchasing a car, obtaining a license plate is a necessary step. Often, car dealerships assist with this process, working with the DMV to ensure proper registration. While many car owners are satisfied with the standard mix of letters and numbers, some prefer to personalize their plates. Vanity plates allow for customized names, phrases, or words, but these are subject to specific guidelines.
If the desired combination is already taken or considered offensive, the DMV will reject the request. At least, that’s how the system is intended to function. Matt Pacenza, an English teacher from Salt Lake City, Utah, recently encountered a vanity license plate that he found deeply offensive.
Recalling his reaction, Pacenza shared with The Salt Lake Tribune, “It stood out to me because of how aggressive, confrontational, and political the message was. I’m used to seeing personalized plates that are more whimsical or playful, like GOUTES, DOGMAMA, or SKILOVE. This was something entirely different.” Troubled by the plate, Pacenza took a photo and posted it on Facebook and Twitter, asking: “Hey @utahdld, how does this plate not violate your guidelines?”
Thatcher later provided insight into why he believed the plate should not have been approved. In a final update, Thatcher confirmed that the DMV was investigating the issue, adding, “I think we’re going to resolve this one.”The post caught the attention of Senator Daniel Thatcher, who responded on X, stating: “Thank you for bringing this to light. I’ve contacted the DLD and will update you when I have more information.”