A California driver managed to secure a distinctive license plate that, when seen in a mirror, spells out a forbidden phrase.

Custom license plates must adhere to strict guidelines set by the California Department of Motor Vehicles, which prohibit offensive or slang language, the manipulation of letters and numbers to mimic other plates, and the resemblance to existing license plates. As per Boing Boing, the driver of this truck managed to evade the laws.

You can personalize license plates with your own combination of letters, numbers, and other characters, as stated by the state’s DMV.Customized license plates can have 2 to 7 characters. Personalized license plates can have varying numbers of characters depending on the type you choose.

California provides a variety of license plate options, including personalized, historical, military, and special interest plates.
State initiatives and programs related to agriculture, the arts, coastal preservation, firemen, pets, child health and safety, preservation, conservation, recreation, and more receive support from special interest plates.

Some of the available military plates include Congressional Medal of Honor, Gold Star Family, Legion of Valor, Pearl Harbor Survivor, Ex-Prisoner of War, and Purple Heart. Additionally, there are “Veterans’ Organization plates for individuals who want to show their pride in the country’s military.”

Moreover, vintage license plates are available for motor vehicles with historical significance, produced after 1922 and at least 24 years old.

In 1901, Time magazine reported that New York began issuing the first license plate of any type when a legislation was approved requiring motor vehicle owners to register with the state.

As per the regulations, license plates are required to display the owner’s initials on the back in a prominent location, with the initials being a minimum of three inches in height.

George F. Chamberlain was the recipient of the first license plate.