The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) announced last week that it had rejected thousands of vanity license plates that did not meet its standards.
Some of those plates included “2@Badash,” “LAKILLA,” and “MRCRAZY,” according to a report from Fox 26 Houston.
Other rejected license plates include the following: 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 TxDMV rejected more than 5,000 license plates in the first 10 months of 2022. Data from the last two months of the year have not yet been released.
Texas drivers have the option of buying a personalized license plate with some restrictions.
According to state guidelines, license plates cannot contain any vulgar content. Personalized license plates — or vanity plates — can contain things like letters, numbers, or symbols such as hyphens, hearts, stars, and more.
TxDMV said that plates can be rejected for being “objectionable,” “misleading,” or “indecent.” The department has the final say on what personalized plates can be approved.
Fox 26 reported that some people attempt to bypass the ban on vulgar license plates by adding letters with symbols or omitting characters.
Here are some of the restrictions the TxDMV has on vanity license plates:
- Vulgar or swear words;
- Language meant to demean a certain group of people such as race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, or associated with an organization that advocates such expressions;
- References to race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation, regardless of whether it is demeaning or not;
- References to illegal activity such as gangs, violence, or which promote the glorification of violence in any way;
- References to illegal substances;
- References to law enforcement, military branches, or governmental entities, including acronyms.
The TxDMV does allow references to colleges and universities — both public and private — and there is a separate process for military uses, such as for disabled veterans.