Illegal ... 'Osama' number plate
Posted on 11/21/2008 4:06:01 PM PST by Stoat
Illegal ... 'Osama' number plate
They are among hundreds of potentially offensive plates spotted by licensing chiefs.
O54MA (Osama), HO57AGE (hostage), BU58OMB (bus bomb), MA56ACA (massacre), and HE58OLA (Hezbollah) will not be issued by the DVLA. Anything including JEHAD or HAMAS is also out.
Other plates on a black list drawn up by a secret panel are thought provocative on religious grounds or likely to spark racial hatred.
They include MO56LEM (Moslem), anything with the letters KORAN or JESUS, GA55OVN (gas oven) and GOO5TEP (goosestep).
Plates like BOO4ZYY (boozy) are banned to discourage drink-driving. And SEX is a no-no.
A spokesman for the Swansea-based DVLA said: “Every number is checked to ensure it doesn’t cause offence.”
Lib Dem transport spokesman Norman Baker, who obtained the list under Freedom of Information laws, said: “Some combinations would be deeply offensive.
“But it’s over the top to ban words about booze and sex. It’s a bit nanny state.”
**********************************
Asians pay most for private number plates The Sun News
Gold plated ... 1 RAN cost £51,500
Tens of thousands of pounds have gone on ethnic-themed registrations in the past year.
The priciest at £254,000 was 51 NGH — Singh — which went at auction to a mystery buyer.
Other huge sums paid to the DVLA include £18,000 for AHM 5D (Ahmed), £51,500 for 1 RAN (Iran), £20,500 for SYR 1A (Syria), £16,500 for 81 ACK (Black) and £27,200 for WEL 5H (Welsh).
Plate sales raised £87million for the Treasury last year.
Lib Dem transport spokesman Norman Baker said: “This array of cherished plates reflects Britain’s changing face.”
THIEVES stole 22,000 plates last year, figures revealed yesterday — using them to drive off without paying for fuel and to fool speed cameras.
****************************************************
Related to main article:
Registration-plates-spelling-out-terrorism-religion-and-sex-banned
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.