Customized license plates are still a popular item people purchase today. A Nevada license plate that read “Go Back to California” has since been recalled by the Nevada DMV after gaining some traction online.
Adam Steelmon, the owner of this license plate, said that he has had no issue with the DMV for nearly 20 years. That is, until last month.
“[About a week after the Facebook post] I get a letter from the DMV saying we don’t feel like your license plate is appropriate and here’s a letter saying we’re recalling them,” Steelmon said. “Local law enforcement have pulled me over to tell me they liked my license plate. Texas has pulled me over. In 20 years, I’ve had one person say well I don’t think your license plates are very appropriate.”
The DMV in Nevada reported that it only takes one complaint for a license plate to be reviewed by their special license committee. “All it takes if for one person to issue or file a complaint. If it goes against the statute, we have a duty to execute on that and recall it,” Eli Rohl, Public Information Officer for the Nevada DMV in Carson City, said.
The statute in question states “Can’t print numbers upside down, can’t do more than 7 numbers, you can’t express contempt, ridicule or superiority of race, ethnic heritage, or gender. Can’t have any sexual, derogatory or obscene. Can’t contain a direct or indirect reference to drugs, or drug paraphernalia, or a gang and it can’t make a defamatory reference to a person or a group,” Rohl said.
The special committee meets every week to discuss any reported license plates. After that, they then decide which license plates violate the statute or not. If you have a recalled plate, you can certainly appeal the committee’s decision by taking the case to a judge that is separate from the DMV.
Steelmon has decided to appeal the recall and will have the hearing July 12, 2023. If the judge rules in his favor, he’ll be allowed to keep the controversial GOBK2CA plates.
Source: https://www.kolotv.com/2023/07/07/gobk2ca-nevada-license-plate-recall/