New Jersey bans ‘ATHEIST’ vanity plate, calls it 'offensive'

[rug]

Published time: August 28, 2013 18:49

The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission has rejected an application for a personalized license plate that says “ATHE1ST” – even though the word is not on the state’s list of offensive and prohibited terms.

New Jersey resident David Silverman, president of the group American Atheists, was willing to pay for a personalized license plate that reflects his views on religion. In the state of New Jersey, it costs $50 to acquire a customized license plate. But the MVC rejected his application, claiming that the word “atheist” is offensive, Silverman tweeted after the incident.

Earlier this year, the New Jersey Star-Ledger published the list of words that the MVC refuses to print on license plates. But the list, which has a total of 1,085 words and is dated Nov. 26, 2012, does not include the word atheist.

MVC spokesman Mike Horan told the paper that personalized license plate applications are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, especially since new slang words are continuously arising.

http://rt.com/usa/new-jersey-atheist-plate-124/

Sorry, I find Secaucus offensive.

[cbayer]

1. Lol, they have already changed their mind due to this going viral on the internet.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/08/28/new-jersey-dmv-reverses-position-that-athe1st-license-plate-is-offensive-after-publicity-on-reddit-twitter/

[rug]

3. Considering they allowed this, it's a good move.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/christianmontone/4777475882/

[cbayer]

5. I AM GOD??? Wow.

Who in the world would do that?

[Laelth]

2. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth

[mindwalker_i]

4. How's about GODSBUTT?

or LILJESUS?

[longship]

6. Apparently Dawkins retweeting about it kick things into high gear.

They reversed the ruling.

I like Dawkins because he's high visibility, he's not afraid to stir the pot, and he gets in the news. That he sometimes says weird things with which I don't agree is minor. I wish he wouldn't do that. But what the hell.

I like it when atheists win these things. I like it when atheists get exposure.

Thanks everybody who helped raise hell.

[rug]

7. Doubtless it helped make it an international embarassment.

[longship]

8. Well, the exposure got them to reverse.

I don't know about international exposure, other than the atheist blogosphere and a few news mentions.

[rug]

9. No, you were right the first time. He has a tremendous ability to point out error and to galvanize.

That's why it's so bad when he is sometimes wrong.

[longship]

11. Sometimes I cringe when says things.

But I like they guy.

[cbayer]

10. I also like it when he uses his bully pulpit to right a wrong

and will give him credit for that.