Utah DMV on controversial ‘DEPORTM’ plate: ‘We’re not sure how it got through’
A vanity license plate that made waves when it was posted on social media this week is now being investigated by Utah officials, according to a state lawmaker.
The picture of the plate — which reads “DEPORTM,” an apparent reference to deportation — was posted Thursday on Twitter by Matt Pacenza. His photo was retweeted dozens of times, catching the attention of lawmakers and state officials.
In his tweet, Pacenza asked state officials: “How does this plate I just saw not violate your guidelines?”
State Sen. Daniel Thatcher, a Republican representing Salt Lake and Tooele counties, responded to Pacenza’s post and thanked him for bringing the vanity plate to light.
“Tax commission is aware and investigating,” Thatcher wrote, referring to the part of state government that oversees the Department of Motor Vehicles. “For clarification; A private citizen has a first amendment right to say offensive things. The State does not, and has rules about license plates. I believe those rules have been violated here. Hopefully Tax Commission agrees.”
Tammy Kikuchi, a Tax Commission spokesperson, said the license plate was approved in 2015, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.
“We’re not sure how it got through,” Kikuchi said, adding that the DMV had a different director at the time, according to the Tribune. “We’re really quite surprised.”
State statute “forbids any combination of letters or numbers that ‘may carry connotations offensive to good taste and decency or that would be misleading,’ ” according to the Utah DMV.
The DMV said that means personalized plates are likely to be rejected if they:
Are vulgar, derogatory, profane, or obscene;
Make reference to drugs or drug paraphernalia;
Make reference to sexual acts, genitalia, or bodily functions, or
Express contempt, ridicule or superiority of a race, religion, deity, ethnic heritage, gender, or political affiliation.
Express or suggest endangerment to the public welfare.
Utah State Sen. Luz Escamilla, a Democrat representing Salt Lake County, wrote on Twitter that the issue would be brought up at an Administrative Rules Review Committee meeting next week.
“It jumped out at me because of how aggressive and confrontational and political the message was,” said Pacenza, who lives in Salt Lake City and snapped the photo near Trolley Square, a local shopping center, according to the Tribune.
“I’m used to personalized plates being whimsical or playful or personal: GOUTES or DOGMAMA or SKILOVE or something. This felt significantly different.”
