“Licentious” Plate Tribute Rejected. “STFU” license tag.
By polachicago
@polachicago (18716)
United States
January 20, 2007 3:30pm CST
"DECEMBER 11–The way Kirsten Norman tells it, the vanity license plates on her Volkswagen Jetta were meant as a tribute to a friend who died from cancer. The Commonwealth of Virginia, however, had a different interpretation of “STFU-PLS.”
Acting on a September e-mail complaint that the acronym stood for “Shut The F..k Up Please,” the Department of Motor Vehicles quickly recalled the plates, sending Norman a letter noting that the tags were “issued in error” and no longer valid. Along with the correspondence, DMV officials sent Norman new plates (the less distinctive “KDA 347?) and asked her to return the personalized plates in a self-addressed envelope they provided.
Norman responded with an amusing October letter in which she explained the supposedly true meaning of “STFU-PLS”. Norman noted that she would not allow the state to “tell me what I can and cannot say on my license plates because of what you THINK it means. This goes against my first amendment rights.” Additionally, in an e-mail to TSG, Norman added, “God the American Government sucks. Freedom of speech my a..s.”
Do you agree with plate rejection?
Have you ever heard about wired licence plates?
3 people like this
6 responses
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
20 Jan 07
I wouldn't see the meaning eather. I used to have plate "ex-wife" and many people get mad on me without the reason.
3 people like this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
21 Jan 07
I never remember my plate numbers. Personal plates are better.
1 person likes this
@Lydia1901 (16351)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Well, that is the first I've heard off. I can't believe they did that. Whatever happened to the freedom of speech? I never heard of any weird licence plates and I do not agree with the rejection.
@Idlewild (6090)
• United States
26 Jan 07
If I saw plates that read STFU I would assume that meant 'shut the f___ up,' and I think other people would too.
It wouldn't bother me, but you know that some person would see those plates and complain that is obscene, offensive, etc. and that person would find a lawyer and sue the state for issuing a license plate like that. So I'm assuming the state decided to nip the controversy in the bud and not allow it at all.
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
20 Jan 07
It was not included in news. I don't know.
1 person likes this
@adidas7878 (1891)
• United States
22 Mar 07
that is the dumbest thing i ever heard, first of all i thought they ask what the plates mean before hand, anyway, and than if they didnt like it they would of not issue it to her in the first place. seconde it is her right to have whatever she have on it. for god sake it could be someone's name, i dont understand govement sometime