The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles announced thousands of personalized license plates were rejected from January to October 2022. Data for November and December was not available yet.
License plates with phrases like “LA KILLA,” “2@BADASH,” and “MR.CRAZY” were three of over 5,000 denied by TxDMV, according to Fox 26 Houston.
Though vehicle owners pay extra for personalized plates, guidelines have to be followed in order for the plates to get approved. State guidelines say Texas license plates can contain letters, numbers, spaces, and symbols like hyphens, periods, hearts, stars, or the state silhouette, but cannot have indecent, vulgar, or derogatory content.
Some people do try to outsmart the system by omitting or adding letters, creatively using symbols, and disguising forbidden phrases such as “TATTD*AF.” Other vehicle owners are a little bold and will submit requests with blatant swear words, Fox 26 said.
Even if the reference is not derogatory, plates can also be rejected for references to race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, drugs, crime, law enforcement, or military branches.
TxDMV also said plates can be rejected if it conflicts with a current or proposed plate pattern issued by the state, if the plates are “objectionable,” “misleading,” or “indecent.”
The department said references to publicly or privately funded colleges or universities are allowed.
Some of the license plates denied over the past year include:
SHE MAD, COOLAF, F@RT, SCAM, SHECAPN, BADAZZ, SAV4G3, ROADRG3, UR NEXXT, SADGRL, ASHOOOL, SNAZZY B, KONVICT, STONED1, STONERR, KSSTHIS, COKANE, SPICEGL, TOOTED, NO EFFS, N4KD, NF*GVN, GOT BUNS, JAN-6TH, F BDN, OLD MANS, FELLON, TOESUKR, VENGNC, SMKE*EM, 4MAGA, BYE@H8RZ , IM PSSD, UPRISE, FN FANCY , TX AF 1, URDONE4, SHITTYB, BLU BLLS, SKMYBLS, 69BLUE, and ST@NER.
The department said Texans are proud of their distinctive character and a personalized license plate is just another way to showcase that pride.
The state has offered specialty license plates since 1965.