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DMVs Across the Country Learning Textspeak

First time accepted submitter 3seas writes in about DMVs across the country learning textspeak in order to keep vulgar acronyms off the road. "You can have txtspeak on your plate in Arizona, but only if you keep it clean. 'ROFLMAO' is a no-go. Arkansas, however, seems to be a little slower on the uptake. 'ROFLMAO' doesn't appear on the state's prohibited list. That doesn't necessarily mean the plate would pass DMV scrutiny should someone request it."

178 comments

  1. I had "IM LMAO" for a few years by kimgkimg · · Score: 1

    Ended up letting it go with the car when I sold it. Saw that it was available again, but the DMV won't allow you to order it anymore.

    1. Re:I had "IM LMAO" for a few years by anagama · · Score: 1

      I week ago I saw a great one: CPTWTF

      --
      What changed under Obama? Nothing Good
    2. Re:I had "IM LMAO" for a few years by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd like GTFONUB or maybe the old classic DIEFEDS.

  2. Cool... by noobermin · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I guess, this matters? :/

    1. Re:Cool... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Can somebody moderate this guy into the ground? I'm so sick of people bitching about articles that aren't news-for-nerds enough for them. Just don't fucking read them!

    2. Re:Cool... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      +1

    3. Re:Cool... by noobermin · · Score: 1

      Sorry but it isn't. I read the whole article, it's short.

      I'm personally concerned about the quality of posts on this site, AC, that are becoming more and more political and click-bait than being of interest. Nonetheless, I am not and shouldn't be God to regulate the choice of submitters and editors...so if the crowd of nerds on slashdot moves in that direction, who am I to stop them?

    4. Re:Cool... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      meh, it was an interesting tidbit and it only wasted a couple seconds of my time. Plus, they're still making "substantial" articles, so it's not time to worry just yet.

    5. Re:Cool... by lxs · · Score: 1

      Vanity plates are a very important social tool. They serve as a warning that the owner wastes his time caring about irrelevant stuff.

    6. Re:Cool... by IndustrialComplex · · Score: 1

      So does painting the interior of your home any color but an eggshell white.

      I don't waste any of my time caring about irrelvant stuff, especially time wasters like commenting on how some posters waste their time caring about irrelvant stuff.

      --
      Out of modpoints but really liked a post? 1BDkF6TtmmeZ3yqXbz9yhdYVqRYnwFoXDj
    7. Re:Cool... by Applekid · · Score: 1

      How much time do you spend starting at your license plate? Versus being in your home surrounded by painted walls?

      Vanity plates indicate a high ratio of an individual's personal opinion of his own importance versus his actual importance in society. But, they voluntarily pay more to the state for the ego trip, so, god bless them.

      --
      More Twoson than Cupertino
    8. Re:Cool... by IndustrialComplex · · Score: 1

      An ego trip? Really? And this statement?

      Vanity plates indicate a high ratio of an individual's personal opinion of his own importance versus his actual importance in society.

      I think you may be reaching just a bit there to fit it to your prejudices.

        I really think you have to consider it on a 'plate' by 'plate' basis.

      For example, the 'EAT THE' virgina plate was freaking awesome. I don't think the guy was boosting up his own ego, and used the plate as a means to crack a joke. (for those who don't get it, the plate was a special issue plate with the motto, "Kids First", just under the ID portion.

      What about the HAM radio guys who put their callsigns on their plates? Oh noes, they have a hobby and used a plate instead of a less readable bumper sticker. What a sense of entitlement they must have.

      --
      Out of modpoints but really liked a post? 1BDkF6TtmmeZ3yqXbz9yhdYVqRYnwFoXDj
    9. Re:Cool... by Muad'Dave · · Score: 1

      What about the HAM radio guys who put their callsigns on their plates? Oh noes, they have a hobby and used a plate instead of a less readable bumper sticker. What a sense of entitlement they must have.

      At least in Virginia you must have an amateur radio license (duh) and amateur radio equipment installed in your car to qualify for a ham plate. The rationale is that if a police officer needs comms, they can rely on anyone with a ham plate. After all, the first purpose of amateur radio existing (as codified in Title 47, Part 97.1a):

      "Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications. "

      --
      Tiller's Rule: Never use a word in written form that you've only heard and never read. You will end up looking foolish.
  3. Dumbest regulations ever... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    OK, you don't want the seven dirty words on license plates. Fine. But acronyms that don't actually SPELL any of the words? Fuck Off.

    1. Re:Dumbest regulations ever... by sjames · · Score: 2

      Shouldn't that be FOAD?

    2. Re:Dumbest regulations ever... by Seumas · · Score: 2

      I don't see how it's their business to regulate anything you want on your plate. If I can put "FUCK" on my car (and I can, free speech and all), then there's no reason I can't put it on my plate. Government agencies need to get out of the censorship business, in all circumstances.

    3. Re:Dumbest regulations ever... by Carnildo · · Score: 1, Insightful

      You own the car. You don't own the license plate.

      --
      "They redundantly repeated themselves over and over again incessantly without end ad infinitum" -- ibid.
    4. Re:Dumbest regulations ever... by ChrisMaple · · Score: 1

      In California, I saw these license plates

      FOK YO

      PUDENDA

      Each of these is rude and likely to provoke anger and violence. It's not good public policy to encourage people to misbehave.

      --
      Contribute to civilization: ari.aynrand.org/donate
    5. Re:Dumbest regulations ever... by TubeSteak · · Score: 4, Funny

      Boy is he going to be surprised when he finds out that the government owns almost all the roads too.

      --
      [Fuck Beta]
      o0t!
    6. Re:Dumbest regulations ever... by mjwx · · Score: 1

      Shouldn't that be FOAD?

      FOADIAF

      Here in Australia we dont have an issue. I've seen DILLIGAF, FACTHUNT and PORKHUNT on the road. EPICHUNT is still available in WA.

      There were some plates with a picture of a starfish embossed on the right hand side issued some years back. Someone got CHOCOLATE.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
    7. Re:Dumbest regulations ever... by cheekyjohnson · · Score: 1

      I still fail to see why they should be allowed to prevent you from having such license plates.

      --
      Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
    8. Re:Dumbest regulations ever... by sjames · · Score: 1

      It seems to me that people who would be offended probably won't know what the textspeak means anyway, they might as well allow it.

    9. Re:Dumbest regulations ever... by TheLink · · Score: 1

      If I were running the agency I'd auction those off. Make more money that way.

      There'd probably be a higher demand for those than the "normal" ones.

      BTW the Chinese are known to be willing to pay more for plates with the letter 8.

      --
    10. Re:Dumbest regulations ever... by TheCarp · · Score: 1

      Honestly, I am not fine with that. Even denying the license plate "FUCK" shows far too much attention to the content of the plates. They shouldn't care...its numbers and letters to them....its a database key. Fuck that. These people are wasting my money, they shouldn't be doing petty shit with it.

      --
      "I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
    11. Re:Dumbest regulations ever... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      But ... but ... Any Rand ... Ron Paul ... I am an island ... mommy told me I was a special snowflake ...

    12. Re:Dumbest regulations ever... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, it's FOandD

    13. Re:Dumbest regulations ever... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because the alternative is to not have the option of personalized plates at all. Is that what you want?

    14. Re:Dumbest regulations ever... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If the plate FUCK was allowed, it would have been snapped up long ago. You'd never get near that plate. You're wasting everyone's time coming up with such boring, immature, trite phrases anyway. Find something more original than "haw haw I made a dirty word".

      As far as wasting money goes, personalized plates cost extra. Their extra cost is covered by the plate buyer, not the tax payer. You lose the argument.

    15. Re:Dumbest regulations ever... by cheekyjohnson · · Score: 1

      False dilemma. Just allow the plates.

      --
      Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
    16. Re:Dumbest regulations ever... by TheCarp · · Score: 1

      Did you have a point? You may say its trite or time wasting, and I agree it is. However, individuals are not prohibited from being trite or time wasters. However, policing their activities, is even worst, because it means crafting policy, training workers, and dealing with whatever issues come up.... all over something "trite".

      Individuals and tax payer funded organizations do not, and should not, be held to the same standards of behaviour. This isn't a case of some random org insituting a random policy, this is government run.

      They should not have the power to have an opinion as to what is "offensive"...which is entirely in contrast to individuals, who are welcome to have whatever opinions they want.

      --
      "I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
  4. A55 RGY Takes the Cake by EmagGeek · · Score: 5, Funny

    http://grupthinkpro.s3.amazonaws.com/grupthinklive80240347b2eab6b15fd4935656ba50e8

    Nobody will ever top Florida "A55 RGY" with the big orange in the middle serving as the letter "O."

    A55 O RGY

    1. Re:A55 RGY Takes the Cake by PRMan · · Score: 5, Funny

      C'mon. This is Slashdot. We know nothing of such things. This plate is way more up our alley: http://macnugget.org/albums/cars/feature.jpeg

      --
      Peter predicted that you would "deliberately forget" creation 2000 years ago...
    2. Re:A55 RGY Takes the Cake by Spectre · · Score: 1

      Best plate ever, I wish I had mod points.
      Every software geek will get it, but the other 99.5% of the people will be clueless.

      --
      "Flame away, I wear asbestos underwear"
    3. Re:A55 RGY Takes the Cake by sco08y · · Score: 2

      http://grupthinkpro.s3.amazonaws.com/grupthinklive80240347b2eab6b15fd4935656ba50e8

      Nobody will ever top Florida "A55 RGY" with the big orange in the middle serving as the letter "O."

      A55 O RGY

      The fact that it says "Sunshine State" beneath is just perfect.

    4. Re:A55 RGY Takes the Cake by TheLink · · Score: 1

      Every software geek will get it,

      Not if they don't recognize the car or know its nickname.

      --
    5. Re:A55 RGY Takes the Cake by Libertarian001 · · Score: 2
    6. Re:A55 RGY Takes the Cake by TACD · · Score: 1

      http://grupthinkpro.s3.amazonaws.com/grupthinklive80240347b2eab6b15fd4935656ba50e8

      Nobody will ever top Florida "A55 RGY" with the big orange in the middle serving as the letter "O."

      A55 O RGY

      Step aside, Slashdot... *puts on shades*... I got this.

      Your new 'best plate ever'.

      Thanks, Bay Area!

      --
      Security through promiscuity is no better than security through obscurity.
    7. Re:A55 RGY Takes the Cake by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, "asshole" seems like a reasonable license plate for someone who bought one of these wannabe GTOs.

      Talk about diluting a good brand.

    8. Re:A55 RGY Takes the Cake by marcello_dl · · Score: 1

      That reminds me TR 010 NE and TR 010 NA are valid, not personalized, plates here in Italy. DR 000 GA is quite evocative too, and should have been already issued by now.

      (If you dunno what "troiona/e" mean, ask your mom ;) ).

      --
      ---- MISSING MISCELLANEOUS DATA SEGMENT --- [sigdash] trolololol
    9. Re:A55 RGY Takes the Cake by Applekid · · Score: 1

      http://grupthinkpro.s3.amazonaws.com/grupthinklive80240347b2eab6b15fd4935656ba50e8

      Nobody will ever top Florida "A55 RGY" with the big orange in the middle serving as the letter "O."

      A55 O RGY

      Unfortunately, those single orange license plates have all been phased out in favor of the double orange license plate.

      In other words, we don't deserve nice things.

      --
      More Twoson than Cupertino
    10. Re:A55 RGY Takes the Cake by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oteFRZe9p28/TrHWjvsVaoI/AAAAAAAAAEo/HISvQnEFnf4/s1600/pedobear.PNG

      I've seen this one in real life. Complete with pedobear peaking out from behind the plate. Seriously.

    11. Re:A55 RGY Takes the Cake by Muad'Dave · · Score: 1

      I have a pic somewhere of the Virginia equivalent - the car was parked outside my office.

      --
      Tiller's Rule: Never use a word in written form that you've only heard and never read. You will end up looking foolish.
  5. what does ROFLMAO mean? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    C'mon guys, just asking. Although I did once see "BAS MOI" on an Oregon vanity plate. That's crude French for "Come fuck me'. It would take real balls to drive a car with that plate in Montreal. Personally I thought that it was funny.

    1. Re:what does ROFLMAO mean? by qubezz · · Score: 1

      I guess Oregon doesn't research foreign languages well, knew an Indonesian who had "CIMENG" (slang, google image search will reveal a meaning now), and "ANJING" (means dog, but it an expletive when yelled out, like "fuck!", when you are mad).

  6. How is ROFLMAO vulgar? by drijen · · Score: 1

    Rolling On the Floor, Laughing Madly And Out loud. Wow, that sounds totally offensive! Idiots.

    1. Re:How is ROFLMAO vulgar? by MortimerV · · Score: 1

      No doubt that'd be fine, but ROFLMAO stands for Rolling On the Floor Laughing My Ass Off.

    2. Re:How is ROFLMAO vulgar? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Textspeak IS offensive.

    3. Re:How is ROFLMAO vulgar? by Golddess · · Score: 1

      I think the A could just as easily stand for Arms. And that's the problem with banning acronyms, especially with no context behind them. Is that FTW "Fuck The World" or "For The Win"? Maybe that WTF is actually "Went To Florida", or a persons name. Wendy Taylor Finnigan.

      In a related note, I've seen ROFLMAO on a Maryland plate. Not recently, but within the last two years I guess it was.

      --
      "I'm not sure I like the fugnutish tone you used in your post!" -RogL (608926)-
    4. Re:How is ROFLMAO vulgar? by Em+Adespoton · · Score: 1

      ...and what's wrong with a donkey enjoying your good mood?

    5. Re:How is ROFLMAO vulgar? by MortimerV · · Score: 1

      I don't make the rules, you'll have to take that one up with PETA.

  7. Tennessee has a great tag... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Tennessee use seven alphanumeric characters. I saw the following a couple of years ago.

          WTF OMG

    It was surprising to see that out in the open.

    1. Re:Tennessee has a great tag... by Golddess · · Score: 1

      Seems tame to me. Clearly the person was commemorating their parents move.
      "Went To Florida, Operation: Move Granny."

      --
      "I'm not sure I like the fugnutish tone you used in your post!" -RogL (608926)-
  8. Never throught about it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...and now I want a Suburban hybrid with "YMMV" as the tag...

  9. Suggestion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just thought of a good one: FTFY

  10. Just a dash by ljw1004 · · Score: 4, Funny

    The Washington State DMV rules say that you can use any combination of letters, digits or hyphen, up to a maximum of 7 characters. Single-character license plates are acceptable, but they've all been taken apart from one:

    -

    I think a single hyphen would be great. When police officers write a citation for speeding, in the box for the motorist's license plate, they'd have to just write a dash. It'd be as if you didn't have one. Like this: http://xkcd.com/1105/

    1. Re:Just a dash by Technician · · Score: 1

      http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,371902,00.html

      Some states made a mistake and distributed WTF plates as normal plates. Example is in the above link.

      --
      The truth shall set you free!
  11. PA plate by nytmare · · Score: 1

    Someone's plate in PA has the summary's example verbatim. Or maybe had, since it's been 4 years since I saw it.

    http://www.nytmare.org/misc/roflmao-plate.jpg

    1. Re:PA plate by PRMan · · Score: 1

      Looks like he may have used zeroes to get around the filter.

      --
      Peter predicted that you would "deliberately forget" creation 2000 years ago...
    2. Re:PA plate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      0 is the same as O in the plate database. Just a matter of how you want it printed. So no, that in itself should never cause a bypass of the filters.

  12. "Ass" is vulgar? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Grow up. Queen Victoria has been dead for hundreds of years. Time to throw the puritanism overboard.

  13. Non english speakers seem to think it is normal by MichaelSmith · · Score: 1

    This indian woman I used to work with would send me emails like What is ur schedule for this afternoon?

    1. Re:Non english speakers seem to think it is normal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't be racist. Even many native English speakers write with that type of language. It has nothing to do with being a foreign speaker.

    2. Re:Non english speakers seem to think it is normal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't be racist.

      That word doesn't mean what you think it means.

    3. Re:Non english speakers seem to think it is normal by MichaelSmith · · Score: 1

      In that environment she was the only person who sent messages like that, out of hundreds of people. I assume she picked it up as she was learning English and assumes that ur is more mainstream than it actually is.

    4. Re:Non english speakers seem to think it is normal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      So, based on this one person, you have made the conclusion that all non-English speakers think that the use of "ur" is normal?

    5. Re:Non english speakers seem to think it is normal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nationalism is just as bad as racism and for pretty much the same reasons so it makes little difference.

    6. Re:Non english speakers seem to think it is normal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Lower case "indian": feather
      Upper case "Indian": dot
      Nothing racist/nationalist to see here, move along.

    7. Re:Non english speakers seem to think it is normal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nationalism is just as bad as racism and for pretty much the same reasons so it makes little difference.

      I don't think that word means what you think it means either.

  14. Years ago in Arizona by overshoot · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... my mistress got "RTFM." The dude at DMV wanted to know what it stood for, she told him it was a Unix command.

    --
    Lacking <sarcasm> tags, /. substitutes moderation as "Troll."
    1. Re:Years ago in Arizona by Barefoot+Monkey · · Score: 1

      echo alias rtfm=man>>~/.bashrc
      Now it is :)

    2. Re:Years ago in Arizona by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And what plate does your wife have?

    3. Re:Years ago in Arizona by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Did she ask what it was like to order around a guy with no balls?

    4. Re:Years ago in Arizona by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      . ~/.bashrc

      NOW it is. *cough*

    5. Re:Years ago in Arizona by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And what plate does your wife have?

      STFU

    6. Re:Years ago in Arizona by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yuk yuk. You "eunichs" hackers are real comedians.

    7. Re:Years ago in Arizona by alexo · · Score: 2

      And what plate does your wife have?

      After she learned of the mistress, "COUCH4U"

    8. Re:Years ago in Arizona by Applekid · · Score: 1

      NUN2NITE

      --
      More Twoson than Cupertino
  15. Re:Stuff that matters? by Em+Adespoton · · Score: 1

    I see you were under the delusion that "news for nerds" and "stuff that matters" were referencing the intersection as opposed to the union.

  16. A couple of classics: by nuckfuts · · Score: 1

    6UL DV8
    IB6 UB9

    1. Re:A couple of classics: by Ol+Biscuitbarrel · · Score: 1
    2. Re:A couple of classics: by akgooseman · · Score: 1

      R8J (pretent you're a cop reading the plate with phonetic alphabet)

  17. wtf dmv? by aNonnyMouseCowered · · Score: 1

    thx 4 mkn me uz wkpdia

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DMV

  18. i want this one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    6UL DV8

  19. Apparently there are no important problems.... by gweihir · · Score: 1

    The war on profanity seems in line with any fundamentalist theocracy though...

    --
    Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
    1. Re:Apparently there are no important problems.... by PPH · · Score: 1

      Find some bible thumper with a vanity plate and convince your state DMV that its slang for mother-son incest in Serbo-Croation.

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
  20. Seen recently by YrWrstNtmr · · Score: 1

    Here in VA, vanity plate central:
    MOE RON
    BIGAZZVAN
    FAT GAL (Tbird)
    &BEYOND (on the back of an Infiniti)

  21. KMIT by hduff · · Score: 1

    Jack Benny had that plate over 70 years ago. He said it meant "Know Me In Truth" when in fact it was Yiddish for "kiss my ass".

    So, this kind of thing is nothing new . . .

    --
    "I believe in Karma. That means I can do bad things to people all day long and I assume they deserve it." : Dogbert
    1. Re:KMIT by PRMan · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I remember my Hungarian friends LOL'ing at a plate one day. Don't remember what it was though.

      --
      Peter predicted that you would "deliberately forget" creation 2000 years ago...
    2. Re:KMIT by SternisheFan · · Score: 1

      I worked for a guy who had "E.S.A.D." in the lower left corner of his business cards. When his customers would ask what it meant he'd tell them the letters stood for "Excellent Service And Dependability", when they really stood for "Eat S*** And Die". (Granted, the guy had anger issues.)

  22. Silver SmartCar in FL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    GO STFU (Go St. Francis University, that's what I said at least...)

    You can probably find it on good somewhere

  23. VA is the capital of vanity plates by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I have no specific stats or numbers but I've lived in 5 states and traveled through or hung out in at least 20 others. I've never seen more vanity plates as I have in northern VA.

    One that stuck out was one I saw about 10 years ago.."aol5.0" I wonder if they still have that.

    VA DMV had a place online to check and order vanity plates since at least 1998 when I moved here, maybe that's why..

    1. Re:VA is the capital of vanity plates by me3head · · Score: 1

      It's because Virginia charges $10/year for them. In Ohio it's $50. Personally, I think it's ridiculous to charge every year when they only have to make it once.

  24. The "NO PLATE" story by hduff · · Score: 2

    http://www.snopes.com/autos/law/noplate.asp

    NO PLATE

    NONE

    NOTAG

    MISSING

    XXXXXXX

    All are both funny and bad ideas.

    I'd lke to get one that reads UFIA.

    --
    "I believe in Karma. That means I can do bad things to people all day long and I assume they deserve it." : Dogbert
    1. Re:The "NO PLATE" story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      God damn it. You would think they'd have a check box on tickets for missing plates, which supersedes the plate number.

    2. Re:The "NO PLATE" story by DarwinSurvivor · · Score: 1

      Or just allow a blank entry...

    3. Re:The "NO PLATE" story by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 3, Insightful

      http://www.snopes.com/autos/law/noplate.asp

      Just to pick a nit with that Snopes article. The first paragraph says:

      Allowing motorists to obtain personalized plates provides them with an opportunity to obtain something distinctively unique, something that commands far more attention than the usual humdrum string of letters and digits.

      Every license plate is, by definition, "distinctively unique". Just sayin' ...

      --
      It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    4. Re:The "NO PLATE" story by Entropius · · Score: 1

      If they'd let you, the thing to do would be to take a page from Korean starcraft players who don't want their handles recognizable, and do combinations of I's, l's, and 1's.

    5. Re:The "NO PLATE" story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It would be more fun to tell them they sent you the wrong plate when you receive it. But only communicate with handwritten letters. "No! It's I1Ill1! You sent me IlIIllI!"

    6. Re:The "NO PLATE" story by VanessaE · · Score: 1
    7. Re:The "NO PLATE" story by TheLink · · Score: 1

      All plates are unique in this world, even those with the exact same letters and digits printed on them in the same order.

      But not all are distinctively unique assuming a certain level of distinctive.

      --
    8. Re:The "NO PLATE" story by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Every license plate is, by definition, "distinctively unique". Just sayin' ...

      Time to go back to the dictionary: you have confused distinctively with distinguishably. If you didn't spend your childhood reading encylopedias and the dictionary for fun, perhaps you should not try to correct others' spelling or grammar on slashdot. Just sayin'...

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    9. Re:The "NO PLATE" story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      pedant alert:
      actually, i would say that they are all 'unique', but only the ones which spell/abbreviate something intelligible are 'distinctively unique'....
      eh?

      art guerrilla
      aka ann archy

    10. Re:The "NO PLATE" story by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Distinct but not distinctive.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    11. Re:The "NO PLATE" story by IndustrialComplex · · Score: 1

      It depends on how you look at it.

      A standard plate will typically follow a mask of XXX####

      It will not be unique from the perspective of the character pattern, while a personalized plate (assuming you can pick any combo) gives you the option of literally anything. No mask.

      --
      Out of modpoints but really liked a post? 1BDkF6TtmmeZ3yqXbz9yhdYVqRYnwFoXDj
    12. Re:The "NO PLATE" story by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 1

      Every license plate is, by definition, "distinctively unique". Just sayin' ...

      Time to go back to the dictionary: you have confused distinctively with distinguishably.

      Those words were from the Snopes article not me. Furthermore, having gone back to the dictionary, I would argue that those words are redundant used together and unnecessary to the description of a vehicle license plate - which are each unique and, therefore, distinct.

      Sure, it's a bit pedantic, but it's been a slow week...

      --
      It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    13. Re:The "NO PLATE" story by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 1

      It depends on how you look at it.

      A standard plate will typically follow a mask of XXX####

      It will not be unique from the perspective of the character pattern, while a personalized plate (assuming you can pick any combo) gives you the option of literally anything. No mask.

      True, the standard plate follows a mask/template, but each plate is uniquely numbered and, therefore, distinct - even plates with the same sequence from different states/countries, if you consider the plate as a whole. But I see your point.

      I was just venting a bit about the Snopes article. Though I'm not an expert in English and sometimes fall victim myself, sloppy speech/writing annoys me. Like TV commercials for upcoming shows that say "All New" when referring to a single episode - grrrr ....

      --
      It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
  25. CARNAL by mikaere · · Score: 1

    When I got mine in NZ some years back, the guy at the kiosk (they sold personalised plates at shopping malls) said it would never be allowed. I always wondered whether FAR CUE would get through.

    --
    It's good luck to be superstitious
  26. Here in RI by kilodelta · · Score: 1

    As a kid I had vanity plates - my vax user name, it fit perfectly in six characters. And in Vaxen land it was your first name and the first and last letters of your last name that made up you username.

    But friends of mine had the plates I-812 and OU-812. They had them for a few years until the DMV realized what it was referring to (I Ate One Two and Oh You Ate One Too) and yanked the plates.

    And I once had the email address fuckewe@cox.net - until Cox figured out what it said and removed it.

  27. Fuqua! but what about real names and words?!!? by girlinatrainingbra · · Score: 1

    But what about my Japanese ancestry friend with a last name of Fuqua? He's had snickers and giggles about his last name since 2nd grade! But his family's been here since the early 1820's in California, so why should the DMV give them a hard time for wanting their last name on their license plate?? They shouldn't, but they did and they do if you want a vanity plate that offends the minds and mindless-sensibilities of these Puritanical U-S-of-A.

    1. Re:Fuqua! but what about real names and words?!!? by Whorhay · · Score: 1

      I knew a Fuqua in the chair force, it was always funny to answer a phone call when someone was calling for him. Another good one was Dyke, pronounced Dick, it was always amusing to watch people try and decide what would be the least offensive way to pronounce his name when they saw his name tag.

      I had an instructor once who had a custom plate for his new corvette, PHSTFCKR or maybe it was PHSTFKR. Anyways he claimed that the first four characters were to be read as "fast", but we always contended it was actually "fist".

  28. Eye witnesses by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They're not thinking about this the right way. More people are going to remember the hit-and-run license plate if it's UWOTM8 than X67R3W.

    And if equivocal abbreviations are too offensive for people on the road, what about explicit bumper stickers?

    What's textspeak for "fuck hypersensitive people"? FHSPPL? FUHYPE? I need to know so I can get it before the DMV bans it.

  29. Over 20 years ago by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Arizona had a human that would look at each requested personalized plate to check for bad things. They probably run it through the list automatically now, but I'll bet a human still has final approval. And the computer list was probably built off of the rejects.

  30. And I forgot ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If someone complains with a good reason, "It mean this...", Arizona will take the plate back.

  31. And another thing by kilodelta · · Score: 2

    Back in the day I used to hang out with a guy with the call KA1RCI. Well, on RI plates the 1 and the I are kind of hard to distinguish. So I get in his truck one day and the glove compartment is STUFFED with parking tickets. I was like, how come they haven't booted you yet?

    Then I looked at the tickets not only were they written KAIRCI but they also had the plate type as 01, whereas amateur radio call sign plates are type 18. Type matters.

    And then there's my sk friend Kevin who had the call sign KA1FTW! The license is still active, maybe when it lapses I'll get it as a club call sign to replace the shitty one we have now which is KB1YSX.

    1. Re:And another thing by nytmare · · Score: 1

      So ham radio handles start with KA? I wondered why I was seeing several different plates in the area that started with that combo, like KA3something.

  32. Start with the title by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    TextSpeak starts with the title! What does DMV start for?

  33. Not all DMVs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    At least not all DMVs in Canada. FAP 247, aIong with plates FAP 001 thru FAP 999, are issued license plates in that quaint throwback of a province, Nova Scotia.

  34. no freedom of speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I was going to ask, what about the First Amendment to the United States Constitution? Then I remembered the case in 1942 called Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire, 315 U.S. 568 which said that obscene language is not protected with the First Amendment. I think.

    1. Re:no freedom of speech? by cheekyjohnson · · Score: 1

      It is protected by the first amendment. However, certain courts have 'interpreted' imaginary exceptions into the first amendment.

      --
      Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
    2. Re:no freedom of speech? by aardvarkjoe · · Score: 1

      I was going to ask, what about the First Amendment to the United States Constitution?

      In my book, First Amendment protections of free speech don't extend to forcing the government to issue you a particular license plate.

      --

      How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
    3. Re:no freedom of speech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      License plates are required. The government prevents you from getting certain license plates simply because they could offend someone (might as well ban all speech, by that logic). That is certainly a free speech violation.

    4. Re:no freedom of speech? by IndustrialComplex · · Score: 1

      If the government is restricting your ability to communicate an idea, I'd say it's a First Amendment issue.

      If the government argues that it's not a method for communicating ideas, then there is no reason to care what character combination appears in that non-communication medium.

      --
      Out of modpoints but really liked a post? 1BDkF6TtmmeZ3yqXbz9yhdYVqRYnwFoXDj
    5. Re:no freedom of speech? by aardvarkjoe · · Score: 1

      If the government is restricting your ability to communicate an idea, I'd say it's a First Amendment issue.

      But it doesn't restrict your ability to communicate an idea. If you really must paste "ROFLMAO" on your car, you can always put it on a bumper sticker.

      --

      How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
    6. Re:no freedom of speech? by cheekyjohnson · · Score: 1

      If you really must paste "ROFLMAO" on your car, you can always put it on a bumper sticker.

      But they're restricting your ability to place it on the license plate. The fact that you can express the same thing in other ways is irrelevant.

      --
      Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
    7. Re:no freedom of speech? by aardvarkjoe · · Score: 1

      But they're restricting your ability to place it on the license plate. The fact that you can express the same thing in other ways is irrelevant.

      No. It really isn't. The government is not suppressing your right of speech or expression in any way. The whole point of the First Amendment is to guarantee your right to speak and express your ideas. That is completely unaffected by whether or not the government is forced to provide you with a piece of metal with your favorite "offensive" acronym on it.

      --

      How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
    8. Re:no freedom of speech? by cheekyjohnson · · Score: 1

      No. It really isn't.

      How is that not irrelevant? You might not think it's a violation of the first amendment, but are you saying that the mere fact that you're capable of expressing the idea in other ways automatically means they're not suppressing your speech/expression? If so, I can think of a number of things they could do; what a huge loophole.

      You probably weren't saying that, but in that case, why say it's irrelevant? I'm not sure it's a first amendment violation, but I consider it as suppressing speech/expression.

      That is completely unaffected by whether or not the government is forced to provide you with a piece of metal with your favorite "offensive" acronym on it.

      But that same government forces you to have that piece of metal, and that same government allows other people to have similar pieces of metal as long as they deem it unoffensive. Regardless of the first amendment, I believe such ambiguous, subjective decisions made by the government are wrong.

      --
      Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
    9. Re:no freedom of speech? by aardvarkjoe · · Score: 1

      How is that not irrelevant? You might not think it's a violation of the first amendment, but are you saying that the mere fact that you're capable of expressing the idea in other ways automatically means they're not suppressing your speech/expression? If so, I can think of a number of things they could do; what a huge loophole.

      You probably weren't saying that, but in that case, why say it's irrelevant? I'm not sure it's a first amendment violation, but I consider it as suppressing speech/expression.

      If you have the option to express the same idea, in the same way, in the same forum, then it should be obvious that your freedom of expression is not being suppressed.

      --

      How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
    10. Re:no freedom of speech? by cheekyjohnson · · Score: 1

      Sure it is. You can't express it on a license plate.

      Using this logic (the part where it isn't a suppression of speech as long as you're technically still able to express that speech is some way), free speech zones are a-okay. After all, you can express anything you want. Just... do it over there!

      At least in one way, speech/expression is being suppressed in an effort to keep certain people from being offended.

      --
      Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
    11. Re:no freedom of speech? by aardvarkjoe · · Score: 1

      Sure it is. You can't express it on a license plate.

      Using this logic (the part where it isn't a suppression of speech as long as you're technically still able to express that speech is some way), free speech zones are a-okay. After all, you can express anything you want. Just... do it over there!

      No, it's not the same thing. Because you still have the right to paste whatever expression you want on your car. Whether or not you can put it on the license plate makes no difference to your ability to express yourself.

      Note that so-called "free speech zones" have another crucial difference: in this case, you're trying to force the government to provide the forum for your "expression." That alone makes the scenarios completely dissimilar.

      --

      How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
    12. Re:no freedom of speech? by cheekyjohnson · · Score: 1

      Because you still have the right to paste whatever expression you want on your car.

      But not on the license plate. And that's the point: the fact that you have other avenues to express yourself doesn't mean you're not being restricted. For free speech zones, you must go to the free speech zones, and for the license plate issue, you must find another way to express the same thing on your car.

      Note that so-called "free speech zones" have another crucial difference: in this case, you're trying to force the government to provide the forum for your "expression." That alone makes the scenarios completely dissimilar.

      But that was not at all the point of my example (recall that I only compared one aspect of one scenario to one aspect of the other). Since this is the government, I do not believe it should be allowed to forbid only certain messages on license plates that they deem 'bad'.

      --
      Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
    13. Re:no freedom of speech? by aardvarkjoe · · Score: 1

      But not on the license plate. And that's the point: the fact that you have other avenues to express yourself doesn't mean you're not being restricted. For free speech zones, you must go to the free speech zones, and for the license plate issue, you must find another way to express the same thing on your car.

      There is no difference in expression of your ideas if you put it on a license plate or on a bumper sticker. It reaches the same audience, it's in the same place.

      The whole reason why "free speech zones" are bad (and why they're created) is because they are intended to actually restrict your expression of your ideas, generally by changing the audience you can reach. That simply doesn't apply to the license plate debate.

      --

      How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
    14. Re:no freedom of speech? by cheekyjohnson · · Score: 1

      There is no difference in expression of your ideas if you put it on a license plate or on a bumper sticker.

      But they're still restricting you from placing it on the license plate. I don't see why the government should be able to do this.

      Yes, technically, they're not restricting your expression itself. However, that's not really my point. The point is that they're attempting to control what you can put on the license plate even when it's possible to personalize them, and that they're doing it for a reason I believe is utterly absurd. And again, this is the government (paid for by taxes), not some random corporation. They force you to get a license plate to begin with, so I definitely don't see why they should get to decide what is and is not 'offensive'.

      The whole reason why "free speech zones" are bad (and why they're created) is because they are intended to actually restrict your expression of your ideas, generally by changing the audience you can reach.

      But you're right that it might change the audience you have access to. That's another difference.

      --
      Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
  35. It's all good until... by snsh · · Score: 1

    Someone makes a free speech issue out of it when their application for an "FU OBAMA" plates gets rejected.

  36. I LV TOFU by Mr_Blank · · Score: 1

    2009 Story out of Denver, Colorodo:

    Kelly Coffman-Lee wanted to tell the world about her love of tofu by picking the letters for her car's license plate. Her suggestion for the plate on her Suzuki: "ILVTOFU." Department of Revenue spokesman Mark Couch said the letters could be misinterpreted. Coffman-Lee, 38, said tofu is a staple of her family's diet because they are vegan and that the DMV misinterpreted her message.

    2012 Story out of Virgina:

    If the Department of Motor Vehicles is going to let people praise certain religions or ethnicities on their license plates, it also must let people denigrate individuals of those faiths and nationalities. That's the opinion of a Circuit Court judge, who ruled last week that part of the DMV's guidelines governing vanity tags is unconstitutional. The ruling stemmed from an appeal from an Iraq War veteran who disagreed with the state's decision last year to revoke his personalized plates, which read "ICUHAJI." "Haji" is a common and often derogatory term for Arabs used by U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The veteran's attorney, however, said his client did not intend to offend anyone.

  37. Oy by Patent+Lover · · Score: 1

    So I guess they'll figure out that YAAFA means "you're a fucking asshole". Perhaps they should not freak out over such idiotic nonsense.

  38. Re:Stuff that matters? by matty619 · · Score: 1

    Very clever ;)

  39. DCUNTD by bruce_the_moose · · Score: 3, Funny

    Seen on a minivan in Fairfax VA. Obviously a fan of the local soccer franchise, no?

    --
    To reduce crime, make fewer things against the law.
  40. Re:Stuff that matters? by DarwinSurvivor · · Score: 1

    Even as a union this article wouldn't fit.

  41. Arkansas DMV by jhobbs · · Score: 2

    As an Arkansan, let me first point out, we don't have a DMV. License plates are handled by the Revenue Department. The Revenue Department is where money changes hands. . . business license, hunting license, boat registration, driver's license, sales tax, assessment? All in the same damn line. That Chinese fire drill of an office is busy enough, I can assure you no one is reviewing your plate. Case in point, I have a gay friend that got away with a plate that says PWR BTM. Honest to god. He has it on a white truck with a black racing stripe on the hood, so they call it the wide receiver. If that passed the revenue office, anything will.

    1. Re:Arkansas DMV by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And here I was going to comment how out here in the middle of the country we don't have the population (generally speaking) to allow for 7-digit plates. I know Missouri doesn't, and I'd bet everything that borders Missouri doesn't either. (Except Illinois. They allow 7. Not 8. They can thank Chicago for their population bump, then curse Chicago for marginalizing the rest of the entire damned state.)

      And if you hadn't picked up on why this comment would be made, go back and count the letters in "ROFLMAO". That's likely the reason it's not banned in Arkansas. Not that it wouldn't pass their screening process, but that it just won't fit on their plate within the limits they allow.

    2. Re:Arkansas DMV by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      I have a gay friend that got away with a plate that says PWR BTM. Honest to god. He has it on a white truck with a black racing stripe on the hood, so they call it the wide receiver. If that passed the revenue office, anything will.

      I wonder if that means they don't hire any queers in there, or if it means it was approved by a big ol' fag who laughed about that one all day.

      In general you can have clever plates if you can make up a good bullshit story for why you want it which fits on the explanation line...

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    3. Re:Arkansas DMV by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You probably need to be gay to understand what that plate means. Power bottom? Is that some kind of common lingo in gay clubs? Probably most people who work at the state aren't homosexual.

  42. Re:Stuff that matters? by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 1

    *sigh*

    I wonder if I can get a license plate that says that.

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
  43. Yiddish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I remember one day years ago when my grandmother was still alive. We were driving down the highway and she suddenly bursts out laughing. The car in front of us had the license place S DREK, Yiddish for "Eat Shit".

    The whole thing is a waste of time, the idea of a "vanity" plate. I suppose it raises money for the DMV. The question is if it still makes them money after they have to put in all the tools to monitor it and take complaints for plates random people consider vulgar.

    1. Re:Yiddish by VanessaE · · Score: 1

      I would guess the plate read "SN DREK", since the Yiddish for "eat" is "essen".

    2. Re:Yiddish by azalin · · Score: 1

      Not really firm in Yiddish, but I guess it's grammar to be a little richer than English. There are many languages with an "imperative" verb form - Latin, French German to name a few. So while in English the sentences "lets eat cake" and "eat this!" both use the same verb, they would be different in other languages. "Ess" is used if you ask (or order) someone to do eat, while "essen" is used too describe the act of eating. So "S DREK" is quite correct.

  44. Best One Seen by sfm · · Score: 1

    From years ago in Texas, hot chick in a red vet:
    License Plate ==> QQQQ

    1. Re:Best One Seen by SydShamino · · Score: 1

      The best I've seen, also in Texas, is an animal friendly plate with the license "YIFFY". This was a few years ago.

      --
      It doesn't hurt to be nice.
    2. Re:Best One Seen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      i don't get it

  45. Religitards are large and in charge still. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "The war on profanity seems in line with any fundamentalist theocracy though..."
    Best post on slashdot this year.

  46. FNURMOM by Chewbacon · · Score: 1

    ...doesn't get approved either.

    --
    Chewbacon
    The Bible is like Wikipedia: written by a bunch of people and verifiable by questionable sources.
  47. Your Tax Dollars At Work by TheSpoom · · Score: 1

    I totally cannot think of a better use of our money.

    --
    It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
    - E. Debs
  48. My plate gets some laughs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My white Bronco plate: NOT OJ

  49. "Sequential" Plates by wildsurf · · Score: 1

    Several years ago, a friend of mine was issued the CA sequential plate: 2GRT269. She immediately swapped it out for a custom plate, which, ironically, was much less memorable.

    In a similar vein, once in a while I check the availability of the "sequential" plate 3XIV159. (I'd call it my Pi Plate: 3 14 159. Get it?) But it still seems to be in use. I wonder if its owner realizes what it means?

    --
    Weeks of coding saves hours of planning.
  50. The best plate I've seen... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "E HONDA" on a Civic.

    A guy just a few doors up from me has "ROFL" on his old Nissan.

  51. Don't feed the trolls! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nobody will ever top Florida "A55 RGY" with the big orange in the middle serving as the letter "O."

    A55 O RGY

    C'mon. This is Slashdot. We know nothing of such things.

    No. This is Slashdot. If there is anything we DO know, it's the dangers of an ass orgy. (Insert link to goatse here.) I mean REALLY.

  52. If they really want to help... by xstonedogx · · Score: 1

    ...they need to save people from themselves.

    INFINIT on an Infiniti.
    AUDIA6 on an Audi A6
    BEEMER on a BMW.

    STOP IT. (Maybe I'll put that on mine.)

    1. Re:If they really want to help... by xstonedogx · · Score: 1

      STOP IT. (Maybe I'll put that on mine.)

      On second thought, that might send the wrong message to the local police.

    2. Re:If they really want to help... by MalleusEBHC · · Score: 2

      Agreed. If any cager puts BEEMER on his Bimmer, he needs to have his head examined.

    3. Re:If they really want to help... by mikehilly · · Score: 1

      In that case go with this one: FREE2GO At least if you get pulled over it gets the words running through their head :)

  53. Re:An old one I remember by ShoulderOfOrion · · Score: 1

    Not sure why you're being moderated down...in any case, you're absolutely right. In California prisoners make the license plates, and they're also used by the DMV to 'screen' the vanity plates. Apparently they're far more skilled at the task then any other solution the DMV has tried. The CA DMV even checks the applications mirrored now, since some like 3M TA3 got through once upon a time.

  54. Mirror Image by djl4570 · · Score: 1

    Years ago one of the SF Bay area columnists reported a Porsche with the plate 3M TA3

  55. The Supreme Court Is Fucked For 44 Years Now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The fact that DMVs can regulate the content of your vanity plates, flatly contrary to the First Amendment, is one more oddment derving from the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court has been in the hands of Republicans for 44 years.

    If you are wondering why warrantless wiretapping is legal, why medical marijuana is illegal, why federal prosecutors were able to hound Aaron Swartz and Peter McWilliams into their graves, why BP and Exxon were never held fully accountable for massive oil spills, and a thousand other injustices, large and small, you have the Republican Supreme Court to thank.

  56. FUHRER by Big+Jason · · Score: 1

    Saw this one at a Marilyn Manson concert, thought it took a lot of balls to pull off. It's a pretty innocuous word in German, but has negative connotations in other languages.

  57. Still love the story... by Genda · · Score: 1

    Of the Liquor store owner who want the DMV to give him two vanity plate for him and his wife. He wanted to split the word COCKTAIL between the two cars.

  58. Fast-forward 2 years... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    DMVs Across the Country Learning 1337.

    --I do not want to use beta--

  59. Some years ago in Ohio....... by saturndude · · Score: 1

    Someone got the license plate "4 NIK 8".

    It took the state a couple of weeks or months, but they figured out what it meant.

    The state recalled the plate.

  60. "Textspeak" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's rather odd to see acronyms that predate the ubiquity of cellular phones referred to as 'textspeak'.

  61. Jersey Deeds Done Dirt Cheap by pedropolis · · Score: 1

    One of the best I've seen was a Jersey plate:

    B1NDAZZ

    Stay classy New Jersey.

  62. ROFLMAO by Martin+S. · · Score: 1

    Banning ROFLMAO seems a bit harsh to me, when the British DVLA is selling this for 599UKP ($950).

  63. Make it look (sort of) like a standard issue plate by SomeoneGotMyNick · · Score: 1

    NE1 469

  64. AR by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Unless something has changed, current AR plates only have 6 numbers/letters so roflmao wouldn't be an option yet.

  65. Cyrillic to the rescue! by alexo · · Score: 1

    "XPEH BAM", "HAXEP", "XEPOBO", "XPEHOBO", "MYTOPHO", "MYCOP", "3ACYHTE", "3ACYHEM", "MA3OK", "MAT", "CTEPBA", "CYKA" and so on should be safe for now.

  66. WTF on regular plates by k6mfw · · Score: 1

    Some states have removed this combo from regular plates though I've seen it here and there. One particular story was a child says to grandmother, "hey, you got WTF on your license plates! HAHAHAHAHA!!!" Older lady had no clue what her grandkid was talking about so she does a search on the internet. She then went to the motor vehicle dept and requested new plates.

    --
    mfwright@batnet.com
  67. YOU Should Try Fresh Udon by PongoX11 · · Score: 1

    Was my description when ordering my California plates "YOU STFU". Sadly, I ordered, paid, and never picked them up LOL--in all reality probably not what I would want on my car today, but still funny that it went through.

  68. TExt DMV by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Reminds me of the time I saw IAM 469 here in Toronto. That was long before text messaging. Still smile about that one.