logo
It's not personal, but the DMV H8s your latest efforts

It's not personal, but the DMV H8s your latest efforts

Yahoo04-06-2025
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The Nevada DMV rejected a personalized license plate in February when someone with a Woman Veteran specialty plate asked for 'WAF' — presumably, a salute to the Women's Air Force program that ran from 1948 to 1976.
The DMV reasoned that 'WAF' might stand for 'weird as f***.'
That was just one among the 1,054 decisions issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles from April 24 to the end of March 2025. Most were clearly attempts to sneak phrases past the people who screen requests for personalized plates.
2023 LIST: See the license plates the Nevada DMV rejected in 2022
The DMV denied 885 requests and approved 120, including some 'with restrictions.' The DMV couldn't decide without a tiebreaking vote on five requests:
YEETIT (denied)
HIGGS B (approved
GPASMF (denied)
DNGRSS (approved)
FP2WDW (approved)
And 35 plates were recalled after they were initially issued. Among those: 10 plates deemed confusing to law enforcement because of repeated numbers that made them hard to read.
Nevadans showed their creativity in coming up with those special plates. The DMV identified plates that fall into categories seen as vulgar, racist, sexual and gang-related, among others. They even stopped some plates because they were perceived references to British slang, Portuguese slang and gay men's slang. Plates with '69' were rejected as sexual references; '88' was flagged as a Nazi reference.
2022 LIST: Custom license plates approved and rejected by Nevada's DMV
We have broken the list into smaller pieces below, each with their own theme. We have tried to obscure profanity and vulgar language, and we want to say thank you to anyone who's making that effort to put a license plate on their vehicle.
Angry much? It's crazy the things people want to put on their license plates. Here are 73 personalized plates that went before the DMV judges from April 2024 to the end of March 2025:
Cute-sexy works, but most of these 254 tries crossed the line:
Profane or vulgar references were turned away almost every time, with 338 requests hitting this wall. People are sure to keep trying to get them past the DMV:
Drug-related references will get your personalized plate denied, even if you don't realize you've done it. Those references aren't the type of fun DMV wants to see. Here are 62 examples:
'Gang-related' covers a lot of ground for the DMV, which put 168 requests in this category. Anything that has even a hint of a connection of support for Nazis falls here. Sometimes, just a 'G' in the request for a personalized plate will be seen as 'gangster,' and 'OG' isn't likely to slide:
Some people like to repeat letters or numbers. It might not be their intention, but those license plates can be difficult for police or first responders to read quickly when there's a need. Here are some examples (93), along with cases in which the DMV said the plate would have made it unclear if it might be a police vehicle:
So whether you're an Elon hater (ELONSUX) or you're just asleep at the wheel (ZZZZ3), good luck next time with your request.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

NC DMV problems will get worse without reform, state audit finds
NC DMV problems will get worse without reform, state audit finds

Axios

time20 hours ago

  • Axios

NC DMV problems will get worse without reform, state audit finds

Problems at North Carolina's beleaguered Division of Motor Vehicles could get worse if the state does not reform its structural and operational issues, according to a state audit of the agency. Why it matters: The state's DMV — which handles issues including driver's license renewals, vehicle registrations and license plates — has come under fire from politicians and residents in recent years due to long waits and limited appointment availability. Driving the news: The audit of the DMV's performance comes with several improvement recommendations from the state's recently elected auditor, Dave Boliek, a Republican who is becoming increasingly powerful in Raleigh. "I can't stress enough: Fixing the DMV is going to take buy-in from all levels of the government," Boliek said at a press conference Monday, per WRAL. "It's not going to happen tomorrow, it's not going to happen next month. But it can happen quick." Between the lines: The audit of the DMV was part of a campaign promise for Boliek, who said more reports on the agency would come. Zoom in: The 435-page audit found that the DMV has been hamstrung by several barriers, including: No direct control over its budget or ability to advocate for resources from the state's General Assembly. A lack of internal performance data to guide decisions. Exclusion from modernization efforts that improved other parts of the state government. State of play: All of this has resulted in an average wait time exceeding one hour and 15 minutes and in 14% of residents traveling more than an hour for an appointment, according to the audit. The audit also found that the number of driver's license examiners has not increased as fast as the state's rapid population growth, according to the audit. At the same time, employee morale has cratered at the agency, potentially leading to more turnover and worse outcomes. What's inside: One of the biggest proposals from Boliek is a potential separation of the DMV from the state's Department of Transportation, to give the DMV more autonomy. It also suggests: That the DMV delivers a new strategic plan within nine months, with clear performance measures. The creation of a new staffing plan that prioritizes high-need offices, like Lillington where there is one examiner for 56,639 residents. Improving customer service through service pilots like pop-up DMV events and improved online technology, like document upload systems and translation tools or a "fast pass" option that allows customers to move to the front of the line for a fee. What they're saying: In response to the audit, Department of Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins and DMV commissioner Paul Tine said they were "committed to addressing the findings of the audit and look forward to continued collaboration ... to implement meaningful changes." The two agreed with most of the recommendations, except for potentially separating the DMV from the DOT. Instead, Tine and Hopkins suggested potentially changing how the DMV is funded by the Legislature, from a biennial appropriations model to a "percentage of fees" funding model.

North Carolina DMV audit recommends reforms to reverse customer wait times, worker morale
North Carolina DMV audit recommends reforms to reverse customer wait times, worker morale

San Francisco Chronicle​

timea day ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

North Carolina DMV audit recommends reforms to reverse customer wait times, worker morale

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Customers at North Carolina's Division of Motor Vehicles are waiting longer in lines that are often far away from home, while agency staffing fails to keep pace with the state's surging population, according to agency reviews that also recommend major reforms. Elected Republican Auditor Dave Boliek on Monday released two audits totaling nearly 600 pages that scrutinize the DMV — the bane of motorists in many states. But long lines and frustrations are acute in the ninth-largest state. 'Our DMV affects the economy. It affects people having to take off of work unnecessarily. It takes our students out of the classroom,' Boliek told reporters. 'This has to be fixed and it has to be a top priority.' Constituent complaints, REAL ID brings problems to fore Boliek promised during last year's campaign to conduct a top-to-bottom review of the DMV if elected. Elected leaders' constituents have complained about the inability to book appointments online close to home and the struggles for their teenagers to complete driving tests. It's not unusual for customers to camp outside driver's license offices in the wee hours hoping to get seen later that day. Problems continued as federal REAL ID license security standards took effect in May. Erin Van Dorn of Holly Springs said at Boliek's news conference it took her and her teenage son four trips to the DMV — the last time 130 miles (209 kilometers) away in Mount Airy — to obtain his license. Information technology and staffing shortages were to blame. 'My son has missed a total of four days of school,' Van Horn said. 'It's just been a very big ordeal for us.' New Democratic Gov. Josh Stein's administration brought in former state legislator Paul Tine as the new Division of Motor Vehicles commissioner and has pledged a turnaround. Longer waits, continued examiner shortages A DMV performance audit Monday said average wait times for customers at the state's driver's license locations increased by over 15% since 2019 to 1 hour and 15 minutes. And close to 14% of the wait times lasted over 2 hours and 30 minutes — a 79% increase from 2019. And nearly half of all transactions by customers aren't happening at the license office closest to where they live. 'The employee experience has diminished as well,' Boliek said. The audit said there were 160 vacant license examiner positions as of April. And while the state's population has grown by 29% over the last 20 years, the number of examiner positions has grown by just 10%. Boliek's staff heard DMV employee complaints about burnout, security and low pay — average examiner position salaries were well below $50,000 last year. The audit attributes many problems to DMV's relationship to the Cabinet-level state Department of Transportation that oversees the agency. The auditor said DMV has undersized influence within DOT when it comes to decision-making and getting budget requests approved by the legislature. Agency independence among recommendations Boliek's most significant recommendation is for policymakers to consider turning DMV into an autonomous agency separate from DOT. Boliek said the recommendation is no slight upon Tine and current Teansportation Secretary Joey Hopkins, whom he said are taking steps toward reform. But he said a permanent change is needed to address situations where the commissioner and secretary don't cooperate as well. Other recommendations include creating a public online dashboard measuring keys performance goals and initiating nonconventional initiatives to reduce wait times and backlogs. Boliek said outside driving school instructors could administer road tests required of new drivers. The DMV could open 'pop-up' license offices at a vacant mall anchor store or create 'fast-pass' options for customers who pay extra to reach the front of the line. 'We can't keep doing things the same old way," he said. DMV, DOT chiefs back most recommendations In a written response to the audits, Tine and Hopkins agreed with nearly all of the recommendations and said many already getting carried out. But they opposed the recommendation to separate DMV, saying the agency's core functions align with the Transportation Department's mission to improve highway safety. 'We know that with the right leadership and follow-through, we will get results -– getting people out of lines and empowering our hard-working DMV employees," Stein spokesperson Morgan Hopkins said. The GOP-controlled General Assembly could still attempt to implement the change. A stopgap budget measure on Stein's desk provides funds to hire over 60 license examiners. And a new state law has established a temporary moratorium on renewing standard licenses, allowing them to remain valid within North Carolina for up to two years beyond the expiration date.

North Carolina DMV audit recommends reforms to reverse customer wait times, worker morale
North Carolina DMV audit recommends reforms to reverse customer wait times, worker morale

Yahoo

timea day ago

  • Yahoo

North Carolina DMV audit recommends reforms to reverse customer wait times, worker morale

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Customers at North Carolina's Division of Motor Vehicles are waiting longer in lines that are often far away from home, while agency staffing fails to keep pace with the state's surging population, according to agency reviews that also recommend major reforms. Elected Republican Auditor Dave Boliek on Monday released two audits totaling nearly 600 pages that scrutinize the DMV — the bane of motorists in many states. But long lines and frustrations are acute in the ninth-largest state. 'Our DMV affects the economy. It affects people having to take off of work unnecessarily. It takes our students out of the classroom,' Boliek told reporters. 'This has to be fixed and it has to be a top priority.' Constituent complaints, REAL ID brings problems to fore Boliek promised during last year's campaign to conduct a top-to-bottom review of the DMV if elected. Elected leaders' constituents have complained about the inability to book appointments online close to home and the struggles for their teenagers to complete driving tests. It's not unusual for customers to camp outside driver's license offices in the wee hours hoping to get seen later that day. Problems continued as federal REAL ID license security standards took effect in May. Erin Van Dorn of Holly Springs said at Boliek's news conference it took her and her teenage son four trips to the DMV — the last time 130 miles (209 kilometers) away in Mount Airy — to obtain his license. Information technology and staffing shortages were to blame. 'My son has missed a total of four days of school,' Van Horn said. 'It's just been a very big ordeal for us.' New Democratic Gov. Josh Stein's administration brought in former state legislator Paul Tine as the new Division of Motor Vehicles commissioner and has pledged a turnaround. Longer waits, continued examiner shortages A DMV performance audit Monday said average wait times for customers at the state's driver's license locations increased by over 15% since 2019 to 1 hour and 15 minutes. And close to 14% of the wait times lasted over 2 hours and 30 minutes — a 79% increase from 2019. And nearly half of all transactions by customers aren't happening at the license office closest to where they live. 'The employee experience has diminished as well,' Boliek said. The audit said there were 160 vacant license examiner positions as of April. And while the state's population has grown by 29% over the last 20 years, the number of examiner positions has grown by just 10%. Boliek's staff heard DMV employee complaints about burnout, security and low pay — average examiner position salaries were well below $50,000 last year. The audit attributes many problems to DMV's relationship to the Cabinet-level state Department of Transportation that oversees the agency. The auditor said DMV has undersized influence within DOT when it comes to decision-making and getting budget requests approved by the legislature. Agency independence among recommendations Boliek's most significant recommendation is for policymakers to consider turning DMV into an autonomous agency separate from DOT. Boliek said the recommendation is no slight upon Tine and current Teansportation Secretary Joey Hopkins, whom he said are taking steps toward reform. But he said a permanent change is needed to address situations where the commissioner and secretary don't cooperate as well. Other recommendations include creating a public online dashboard measuring keys performance goals and initiating nonconventional initiatives to reduce wait times and backlogs. Boliek said outside driving school instructors could administer road tests required of new drivers. The DMV could open 'pop-up' license offices at a vacant mall anchor store or create 'fast-pass' options for customers who pay extra to reach the front of the line. 'We can't keep doing things the same old way," he said. DMV, DOT chiefs back most recommendations In a written response to the audits, Tine and Hopkins agreed with nearly all of the recommendations and said many already getting carried out. But they opposed the recommendation to separate DMV, saying the agency's core functions align with the Transportation Department's mission to improve highway safety. 'We know that with the right leadership and follow-through, we will get results -– getting people out of lines and empowering our hard-working DMV employees," Stein spokesperson Morgan Hopkins said. The GOP-controlled General Assembly could still attempt to implement the change. A stopgap budget measure on Stein's desk provides funds to hire over 60 license examiners. And a new state law has established a temporary moratorium on renewing standard licenses, allowing them to remain valid within North Carolina for up to two years beyond the expiration date. Gary D. Robertson, The Associated Press

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store