Alright folks, buckle up! We’ve got a story that’s speeding straight into the Department of Motor Vehicles, off the streets of Utah. Picture this: a high school teacher spots an… let’s call it “questionable” vanity license plate and, oh boy, does it stir the pot!
Our protagonist, Matt Pacenza, is your everyday high school English teacher from Utah. One day, he sees a car flaunting a license plate that reads “DEPORTM.” Thinking quickly (as English teachers often do), he snaps a photo and tweets it, tagging the Utah Driver License Division and asking, “Hey guys, how did this plate breeze past your guidelines?”
Now, you can imagine, Pacenza wasn’t the only one to raise an eyebrow. The Twitterverse erupted with over a hundred disapproving voices. One witty commentator exclaimed, “That should never have been accepted by the DMV.” When a CNN affiliate picked up the story, things moved faster than a teenager’s texting speed.
Enter KSL, a CNN affiliate, who got in touch with the Utah Department of Motor Vehicles. The public information officer, Tammy Kikuchi, confirmed that yes, the plate was indeed real. It had been cruising the streets since 2015! Five whole years!
Here’s where it gets tricky. In the good old US of A, offensive speech sometimes enjoys the protective embrace of the First Amendment—unless it’s a direct threat or incitement to violence. Yet, states do have the wiggle room to set some rules for license plates. According to the DMV, any plate combos that are “vulgar, derogatory, profane, or obscene and express contempt, ridicule, or superiority of a race, religion, deity, ethnic heritage, gender, or political affiliation” are a big no-no.
Given this, Pacenza’s tweet wasn’t left hanging in the digital void. The very next day, he confirmed that the state Tax Commission had taken note. An investigation? You betcha! They were hot on the trail of whoever approved this controversial plate back in 2015.
Even the Utah Republicans chimed in, accusing the plate’s owner of using “state resources to promote divisiveness.”
Then there’s State Senator Luz Escamilla, who apparently takes her license plates very seriously. She was none too pleased to find out that such a plate was merrily driving around town. Reports indicated she had the topic slated for review at the Utah Legislature’s administrative rules review committee meeting. It seems like everybody wants a piece of the plate pie.
Representatives from both the Tax Commission and the DMV were ready to clear the air at this meeting. They aim to explain how Utah determines what’s offensive and who, exactly, rubber-stamped this eyebrow-raising plate.
Just when you thought this story might ease off the gas, KUTV asked the DMV for a sneak peek at their list of rejected vanity plate names. Let’s just say it’s a smorgasbord of creativity, including gems like “SAUSAGE,” “NSTYHOE,” “W1NGMAN,” and “PLAN B.”
So, there you have it, folks! One teacher’s tweet turned into a full-on state investigation, with everyone from the Twitter masses to state senators chiming in. Who knew that metal plates could stir such a storm? Stay tuned, because this ride is far from over.
