DMV claims bin Laden plates are offensive; replaces them with satanic plates.
GLOUCESTER, Virginia - April 27, 2012 - A Virginia man says his Osama bin Laden-inspired license plates are being taken away by the Department of Motor Vehicles for being offensive. But he says the DMV’s new plates are even worse.
Rick Sanders has had his “F.OSAMA” license plates for seven years. He received a letter this week from the DMV saying the plates would be replaced because they are “profane, obscene or vulgar in nature”.
The plates are being replaced with “6668UP.”
“I’m offended by this,” said Sanders. “I don’t like anything with 666 on it.”
The numbers 666 are widely viewed as a satanic symbol and Sanders said he reads his new license plate as, “The devil ate you up.”
According to the Virginia DMV website, the “DMV reserves the right to recall and cancel any personalized license plate that was issued if the agency subsequently determines or discovers that the personalized license plate was not in compliance with these guidelines when issued or if, due to changing language usage, the personalized license plate has become non-compliant with these guidelines.”
“Language is an ever changing thing,” said Pam Goheen, a spokeswoman for the Virginia DMV. “Sometimes are we overly cautious? Sure, but we rely on the public to notify us when they see messages that are potentially objectionable.”
Although Goheen said she could not discuss Sanders’ case specifically, she said anyone whose plates are deemed offensive can work with the DMV to come up with an alternative message.