It seems Illinois drivers aimed for creativity and landed in hot water instead. Over 300 license plates were given the thumbs down in the Prairie State this year for crossing the line into offensive territory. The Illinois Secretary of State's Office played gatekeeper, rejecting these custom tag requests due to their profane or difficult-to-decipher messages.
Amid nearly 55,000 applications for personalized tags, it was reported by NBC Chicago that at least 304 of these were not up to snuff. Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias quipped that though imaginative, all plates must "meet the standards of good taste and decency." His office, standing guard against the crude, added these rejected plates to a naughty list that has swelled to over 7,700 banned combinations.
From the brazen "EATBUTT" to the crass "BONER," some plates did not skate through the approval process. Other monikers like "MILFS" and "DZNUTZ," officials firmly placed in the no-go zone, confirmed WGN-TV. These shunned character mixes, not finding their way onto the backs of cars, will join others in a state of permanent banishment.
While the unique "Pick a Plate" feature lets residents stamp their identity on their rides, it also helps avoid choosing a plate already snagged by another motorist. Request forms pulled from the slush pile, including "WOOPASS" and "IOWASUX," were read aloud by Giannoulias in a video, serving as a lesson in decorum on the roads.
As for the cost of these sought-after yet refused custom plates, a combination of letters and numbers costs Illinois citizens a cool $47. If a motorist opted for a vanity plate of all letters, they’d shell out an additional $94. These prices are a surcharge on top of the usual tag expenses.
