A Utah resident’s offensive vanity license plate reading “DEPORTM” has sparked outrage. High school teacher Matt Pacenza shared a photo on Twitter, questioning how it passed guidelines. Over 100 people condemned the oversight, with one saying, “that should never have been accepted by the DMV.”
The Utah DMV confirmed the plate’s approval in 2015, citing First Amendment protection unless speech poses a threat. Yet, states can set rules for vanity plates, and Utah prohibits those expressing contempt for race, religion, or gender. State Senator Daniel Thatcher called it blatantly offensive, prompting an investigation into its approval. Senator Luz Escamilla scheduled a review, expressing concern over the offensive message on Utah roads. At the meeting, officials will clarify Utah’s criteria for offensive plates, while KUTV shared a list of rejected names, highlighting the need for stricter screening.
