TXDoT Rules Against "ADD1CT"

[confusion]

hey guys,

i just wanted to share my experience w/ you all in applying for the license plate "ADD1CT" in Texas. below is the series of e-mails. the first e-mail is a written response i received after i received an initial phone call denying my application. i've changed my real name to my screen name "confusion" for clarity. please share your thoughts.

thanks.

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Confusion,

Here's the email address that you can use to appeal the decision made by the committee for your personalized plates.

vtr_special_plates@dot.state.tx.us

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me at 512.374.5010 or log onto our website at www.txdot.gov.

Have a great day!

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To Whom It May Concern:

Yesterday morning I received a phone call from Andy Robinson and I was able to return his phone call this morning. The call was in reference to my recent application for a personalized license plate saying "ADD1CT". Andy informed me that my application has been denied by the committee for potentially being offensive. He told me that I have the right to appeal and therefore I am.

I understand that the word "addict" could potentially be misconstrued. My selection of "ADD1CT" has nothing to do with any negative connotations of the word and everything to do with my association with an online community of enthusiasts for the new BMW 1 series. This community can be found at:

http://www.1addicts.com/

I'm the proud owner of a new BMW 135. For those that don't know, they are brand new vehicles to the United States (just released in March of 2008). I've been a member of 1addicts.com since November of 2007. My application is an extension of my affiliation with this community and a play on words since I only have six characters (hence the "1" in the word "ADD1CT").

As a point of reference, I looked up the word "addict" on www.dictionary.com. A couple of the definitions perfectly describe the way I interpret the word:

noun
1.
someone who is so ardently devoted to something that it resembles an addiction; "a golf addict"; "a car nut"; "a bodybuilding freak"; "a news junkie"

2. A devoted adherent; a fan: "We are all . . . addicts of change"
(Christopher Lasch).

I appreciate having the opportunity to explain my selection and hope that I've demonstrated a positive meaning in my selection.

Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing back from you.

Sincerely,

Confusion

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Confusion,

Our office has received your appeal request asking the department to reconsider the issuance of the personalized license plate selection "ADD1CT". We appreciate the time you took to provide us with additional documentation.

At this time, your appeal request has been submitted to the personalized license plate review committee. The appeal process takes approximately 24 to 48 hours. We will notify you once our office receives a decision on your appeal.

Should you have any questions or require additional information, please feel free to contact our office at (512) 374-5010 or via e-mail at VTR_Special_Plates@dot.state.tx.us.

Thank you for using our appeal process.

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Confusion,

We received your appeal letter dated April 22, 2008, requesting reconsideration of the personalized license plate selection, "ADD1CT". We appreciate the time you took to provide us with additional documentation. However, after review, we stand by our decision to deny your requested plate selection.

With license plates being so visible on the over 20 million Texas vehicles, we hope you understand that we are extremely careful to avoid issuing plate selections that may have an entirely different, and possibly offensive, connotation to the general public than the one intended by the applicant. On occasion, the department will even cancel an issued plate selection due to changes in the meaning of certain words of phrases.

As a fellow Texan, we want you to have fun expressing yourself with your vehicle license plates, and we hope this experience does not discourage you from obtaining that personalized license plate that you will be proud to display. You may go to www.texasonline.com to find our specialty license plates pages where you can check the availability of other selections.

If you like, you may also continue your appeal process by submitting another review request to the Texas Department of Transportation Executive Director, Amadeo Saenz Jr., P.E., 125 E. 11th St., Austin, TX 78701-2483.

We apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced, and look forward to serving you in the future. If you have any questions, please call the Special Registration Branch at (512) 374-5010.

[jeremyc74]

Wow. That's just wrong. Political correctness run amuck for sure!

[S54dan]

Damn that sucks, politically correct I guess :iono: Try "4dd1cts"

[thesmokingone]

you should ask them which negative connotation they are talking about.

[imported_Katera]

Well as a fellow Texas and 1Addict I guess I can chime in. First of all I think it sucks you got turned down, but...........

I have to say <as much as it pains me>, that I do understand their reason. I am a health care provider that unfortunately deals with drug addicts a bunch. 99% of Texas would take one look at your plates and assume you were a drug addict that was flaunting it. I know you aren't, but seriously you know they would. I also have to say at least the guys email seemed to sympathize somewhat with you and seemed somewhat personal. More then most govt employees offer. Anyway, keep looking for a great plate!

[atr_hugo]

In keeping with the BMW ad theme overseas (txt msgng ; -), how about 1NTENS ?

[c0smuss]

ohh man that sucks I think when I get my 1er I'll try that up here in Calgary

[128er]

Who cares if your "add1cted" it's your choice

[runNgun]

I would always worry that it will get stolen by casual users who think its a cool trophy.

[ulrichd]

I am going to try for EINER (literally translates to "oner" from German). Picking up my 128 in Munich this autumn, identical to 128er with the exception of the step - I will always be a manual man.

[ulrichd]

Actually it should be EINSER, my German is rusty.

[Yearofthe1]

Originally Posted by Dan@UnitedBMW

Damn that sucks, politically correct I guess :iono: Try "4dd1cts"

Umm, the first thing I read when I saw the above was "For D#cks"

I wouldn't use that, esp in Texas

[cozza]

What a crock of shit! I'm sure there wouldn't be many drug addicts who could afford a new BMW. I wanted this plate in Australia, but someone's already got it

[sadu77]

dont mess with texas.

[rocketpop]

I aways want JONESN but its always taken. (last name is Jones)

[S54dan]

Originally Posted by Yearofthe1

Umm, the first thing I read when I saw the above was "For D#cks"

I wouldn't use that, esp in Texas

Now that you mention it......... dang

This country is getting too politically correct IMO...

[felixdahousecat]

What about 1ADD1CT??

[hitthemark41]

Originally Posted by Katera

Well as a fellow Texas and 1Addict I guess I can chime in. First of all I think it sucks you got turned down, but...........

I have to say <as much as it pains me>, that I do understand their reason. I am a health care provider that unfortunately deals with drug addicts a bunch. 99% of Texas would take one look at your plates and assume you were a drug addict that was flaunting it. I know you aren't, but seriously you know they would. I also have to say at least the guys email seemed to sympathize somewhat with you and seemed somewhat personal. More then most govt employees offer. Anyway, keep looking for a great plate!

+1 Being another HCP that sees alot of abuse, I just think the general public sees the word "addict" and has negative vibe from it. Is it fair? Certainly not. But it IS the world we live in...AND, if you can't get that to fly in Texas....it won't fly anywhere!

[rocketpop]

Originally Posted by felixdahousecat

What about 1ADD1CT??

too many letters for texas

[cracka]

Granted, addiction is a grave subject for many, but $5 says that anything containing "D1C" gets an immediate rejection because of its phonetic penile implications. It's a sad state of affairs.

[S54dan]

So did you decide on anything to get on your plate?

[confusion]

Originally Posted by Dan@UnitedBMW

So did you decide on anything to get on your plate?

dunno. i may throw in the towel. i contemplated fighting it some more but don't think it's worth it. i don't have anything else that jumps out at me atm. i've kept up w/ the vanity plates thread and haven't seen anything in there that i would want personally. i wanted something clever that the community would understand but that would be inconspicuous to the lesser common folk. i'll just have to keep thinking about it i guess...