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| Britain |
| 'O54MA' Road Ban: U.K. Blacklists Terror License Plates |
| 2008-11-22 |
| License plate numbers that may be snapped up by terrorist sympathizers have been banned in the U.K. 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 department of motor vehicles. Anything including JIHAD 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 drunk driving. And SEX is not allowed. A spokesman for the Swansea-based Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency said: “Every number is checked to ensure it doesn’t cause offense.” 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." |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #6 "And SEX is not allowed." "No sex, please - we're British." |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2008-11-22 20:15 |
| #5 Meanwhile, the license plate K8ZAHOR passed muster in my state. So did YOUSTFU. I'm worried about American society. At least another one I've seen, RM-RF is funny. |
| Posted by: Eric Jablow 2008-11-22 20:05 |
| #4 I saw a plate spelling RMCS4. It was clever and legal. Even in Alaska. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2008-11-22 14:53 |
| #3 So from now on if you see a plate that offends you, you should be able to collect damages in court. Since the govt. has failed to protect your fragile little psyche. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-11-22 12:43 |
| #2 How about?: BACN4ALL, PIGSRGR8, |
| Posted by: Hammerhead 2008-11-22 10:57 |
| #1 Have they decided do with 6UL DV8 yet? Or does one of our Senators already own it? And somebody better grab 3M TA3 before one of Clinton's old administration gets it. |
| Posted by: gorb 2008-11-22 09:56 |