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NWTF (North Wood Tree Farm) license plate suddenly obscene
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A Central Ohio woman said she has had
the same license plate on her car for more than a decade,
but now the state is calling her personalized plate obscene.
Pat Niple turned 74 years old on Tuesday. She normally ordered
her license plates and renewal stickers by mail. But this
year, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles returned her check,
accompanied by a letter.
"The letter stated that I could no longer have my license
plate, which was NWTF," she said.
Niple's personalized plates are NWTF, an abbreviation of
Northwood Tree Farm -- a business she owned with her
late husband. It also means something else, officials said.
"Apparently, the young people use it on the computer,"
she said.
Niple went to a BMV office to get some answers. A clerk
had to whisper what the acronym means to some people.
"Now what the –- and the last word begins with an f," Niple
said. "I said, 'You got to be kidding me.'"
BMV officials said they have a set of standards that includes
no profanity or obscene language. So, Niple has to use a
temporary tag until her new, acceptable plates arrive.
A BMV representative said Niple can appeal to the registrar
by writing a letter explaining what the acronym means to
her. Officials will then make a decision based on her plea.
Niple said she plans to appeal and that she will at least
keep the plates and frame them in memory of the business
her family once owned.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A Central Ohio woman said she has had
the same license plate on her car for more than a decade,
but now the state is calling her personalized plate obscene.
Pat Niple turned 74 years old on Tuesday. She normally ordered
her license plates and renewal stickers by mail. But this
year, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles returned her check,
accompanied by a letter.
"The letter stated that I could no longer have my license
plate, which was NWTF," she said.
Niple's personalized plates are NWTF, an abbreviation of
Northwood Tree Farm -- a business she owned with her
late husband. It also means something else, officials said.
"Apparently, the young people use it on the computer,"
she said.
Niple went to a BMV office to get some answers. A clerk
had to whisper what the acronym means to some people.
"Now what the –- and the last word begins with an f," Niple
said. "I said, 'You got to be kidding me.'"
BMV officials said they have a set of standards that includes
no profanity or obscene language. So, Niple has to use a
temporary tag until her new, acceptable plates arrive.
A BMV representative said Niple can appeal to the registrar
by writing a letter explaining what the acronym means to
her. Officials will then make a decision based on her plea.
Niple said she plans to appeal and that she will at least
keep the plates and frame them in memory of the business
her family once owned.
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