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by Bryan_Polcyn from FOX 6 Milwaukee

Last Post 11 days, 10 hours Ago


Banned license plates
May 13, 2008 | 9:02 PM
Category: News
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My producer had the bright idea a few months ago of requesting the state's list of objectionable license plates -- all the personalized plate applications that have been denied, because they were offensive, obsene, etc.

When we got the Excel spreadsheet full of more than 8,000 letter and number combinations, I was engrossed.  Some of it is funny, some disturbing, some confusing. 

Mostly, though, it is fascinating.  So, I wanted to post the entire list here for you to peruse.  Unfortunately, our news managers - in a bout of journalistic responsibility - decided it would be best not to place such potentially offensive and obscene material on our website. 

Still, it's my contention that our story will pique many viewers' curiosity as to what this magical list really contains.  So, here's another website that has a searchable database of Wisconsin's objectionable plates.

If you're interested in America's obsession with vanity plates, a guy in New York is writing a book called, License To Roam: Vanity Plates and the Stories They Tell.  He's done some really interesting research on this.

 

 

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Member Comments Total Comments: 9
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garageman read my blog view my photos
May 14, 2008 | 8:54 AM

I am reminded of the days of my youth when vanity plate first became available. At the time I was parking cars at the Astor Hotel. A resident at the hotel was Art Gutho, a local restaurantuer at the time. He had to sue the State of Wisconsin to do it, but seeing as how he owned a popular restaurant in downtown Milwaukee, the judge decided he was justified in his request for vanity plates that read "EAT OUT".
Centauri65 read my blog
May 14, 2008 | 11:08 AM

I was going to get a vanity plate but it was too expensive and in the case of a friend of my father's caused a stalker incident.
moonbaby read my blog
May 14, 2008 | 12:03 PM

I saw a plate the other day that was on an audi mini cooper - CRAPAUD. I would have thought that was not allowed. Is there a number or e-mail to report offensive plates - I watched your article & you didn't give out any.
F0x6Fan read my blog view my photos
May 14, 2008 | 2:41 PM

interesting story....i had vanity plates once but all it said was "JUNBUG" which is my nickname, and great follow-up story on the officers who were fired at the CCC facility downtown who just might get their jobs back--nice job Bryan
aaro-nf read my blog view my photos
May 14, 2008 | 4:24 PM

bryan_polcyn:
i did see the story last night and let me tell ya, you did a great job on that story. as always, great job on the posting of this blog. if i see a major investigation that you have on the news, you can sure bet to see another blog from me on that. great job and keep up the great work.
--aaro-nf
Snowhawk read my blog view my photos
May 14, 2008 | 6:19 PM

Gee! I wonder why my plate says, "SNOHAWK" ?
Bryan_Polcyn read my blog view my photos
May 14, 2008 | 8:08 PM

Moonbaby -

Thanks for the reminder. I meant to post this earlier. I got the following email from the head of the Special Plates Unit. It is probably the best number to call (or email address to write) whether you want report an objectionable plate - or request the list to see for yourself:

-----

Bryan,

Thanks for the message regarding your broadcast on objectionable license
plates. I was able to watch the piece live via the Internet last night. My
compliments on a story well done. (Please convey my thanks to Patrick
McCraney as well.)

If you receive inquiries from the general public for our objectionable plate
list, please provide them with the following DMV contact information for
their open records request:

Phone: 414-266-1000
email: bur-veh-services.dmv@dot.state.wi.us

Thanks again.

Reggie Paradowski
Special Plates Unit, Supervisor
loripav read my blog view my photos
May 14, 2008 | 9:29 PM

My friend had her plates say MSS_44D. I guess that is a little disturbing. Well she has passed on but her son still has the plates put up in his basement. I drive most of the time and my husband is the passenger and he is like saying (look at that plate). I tell him that I have to keep my eyes on the road and I realy can't look at the car next to me. Sometimes I get to be passenger and then I read the plates when I am not sleeping,(most of the time I fall a sleep being a passenger)
Lillyann read my blog view my photos
May 16, 2008 | 8:59 AM

Don't know how they get away with nasty plates. When I applied for mine they asked "why" I wanted those and what the meaning was behind it.(on the form) I had to write a couple of sentences to the meaning of the plate before I got them.
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Bryan_Polcyn

Okay, so there is an "I" in I-Team. But don't be fooled. There's more Team than meets the eye. There are my producers, Patrick McCraney and Jennifer Schwarz. Our extraordinary editor, Dave Michuda. And then there are some of the best photojournalists in the business. As for me, I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri (Pattonville High School). I got my bachelors degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. And I've worked in both radio and television in Missouri, Iowa, and Wisconsin. In fact, I met a Wisconsin girl while working in Des Moines. We got married in the spring of 2000, moved to Kansas City, and four years later, she brought me home. We have two of the cutest kids on earth, plus two cats that give our Dyson a workout. I love snow skiing, soccer, Texas Hold 'Em, the St. Louis Cardinals, and ice cold beer (not necessarily in that order). I have a passion for my work. But there is no greater joy in my life than being a dad. Subscribe to my blog and you'll get an email everytime I add a new post.

Member Since: 8/24/2006


 

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