WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Vt. Vanity Plates: How Far is too Far?

Vt. Vanity Plates: How Far is too Far?

Burlington, Vermont - October 19, 2009

A ruling is expected soon in a case that could determine what Vermonters can and cannot have on their license plates.

The Motor Vehicles Department sets the rules for personalized "vanity" plates. You can't have anything vulgar but you also can't have anything political, racial or religious.

So when a Vermont man wanted the biblical verse John 3:16, the DMV said no. He sued, and the issue is now in the hands of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

"In Vermont, you write down the meaning of your license plate and so he wrote down the biblical meaning that he was referring to, a Bible verse, and he was denied. Although if he had written down that my son's name is John, his birthday is March 16, that would have been okay. So he, along with some public interest groups have challenged that," said Vermont Law School professor Cheryl Hanna.

The plaintiff points to several examples of plates that the DMV has allowed that make religious, ethnic and political statements. Hanna says no matter the appeals court decision, the issue might ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Roger Garrity - WCAX News