Driver’s sassy license plate told Californians to leave Nevada. Now a judge weighs in
A man was so fed up with Californians moving to Nevada in 2004, he has dedicated his license plate ever since to telling them to go back.
Adam Steelmon was in jeopardy of losing the plate he’s had for 19 years — which says “GOBK2CA,” short for “go back to California” — after someone complained to the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles in April that it was defamatory, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
But he’ll be allowed to keep it because of a statute that says registrants who’ve continuously renewed a specific plate are entitled to keep the plate, a judge ruled July 21.
“Local law enforcement have pulled me over to tell me they liked my license plate,” Steelmon told KOLO. “In 20 years, I’ve had one person say, ‘Well, I don’t think your license plates are very appropriate.’”
It takes only one complaint for the DMV to review a personalized license plate that it had previously approved, the Review-Journal reported. The DMV recalled Steelmon’s plate in May, but he petitioned the recall later that month, the outlet reported.
The statute mooted any arguments about the plate being defamatory, DMV spokesperson Eli Rohl told McClatchy News in an email.
“Judge Scott Eichorn ruled in favor of Mr. Steelmon — a decision which we respect, and we thank him for his time,” Rohl said.
