The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation continues to expand its growing list of vanity license plates not allowed.<\/p>\n
Previous tags that landed on the agency’s “do not issue” list have ranged widely, from the obviously, violent, sexual, and drug-related, to the more subtle. <\/p>\n
That includes tags like “ABUSE,” “ACE HOLE,” and “EXTASY” as well as dozens of iterations of “BICHN,” “BOSSBICH,” and “U THOT,” according to the state’s previously published list.<\/p>\n
Seeming celebrations like “US FYEA” are also a no go. <\/p>\n
PennDOT did not provide Patch with a list of the forbidden tags in time for publication. And it’s not clear why the information is not publicly available on their website. <\/p>\n
Vanity plates are by nature provocative. But presumably, unless a prospective plate falls under one of the already published “do not issue” tags, drivers must apply with their idea first and find out if it’s acceptable later. <\/p>\n
However, some of the new additions to the list reportedly include phrases new to the national vocabulary. According to GoErie.com<\/a>, they range from “GYATTT” and “HAWK2 UH” to “EF ELON.”<\/p>\n Based on previously published list, there are at least several thousand forbidden tags. <\/p>\n PennDOT says that a dedicated team of staff review each application for a vanity plate. They use a broad and sweeping criteria to evaluate plates, including filtering it through a variety of checks. <\/p>\n “PennDOT staff utilizes many resources in reviewing personalized license plate requests, such as an Internet Acronym Dictionary, Slang\/Euphemism Dictionary, translations from foreign languages, (and) an upside down or reverse reading of the requested configuration,” the agency said. <\/p>\n Beyond the obvious, plates that reference criminal activity, gangs, general contempt or anger, and other racial, ethnic, and religious epithets are all banned. <\/p>\n When plates are rejected, applicants are sent a letter explaining why. Rejected applicants can also talk on the phone with PennDOT staff for further clarity. <\/p>\n