Saudi government bans "lewd" personalized license plates including: "SEX," "ASS," and... "USA"?!
Saudi Arabia recently instated a new type of license plate that is expected to be fitted to 49 million cars in the kingdom. As opposed to the old Arabic-only plates, the new plates feature Arabic and Latin letters and numbers. Drivers can even request that the three letters on the lower right form certain 3-letter English words, like "nut." But according to the BBC, authorities have published a list words that definitely cannot be placed there, and heading the list of words like "SEX" and "ASS" is this one: "USA."
Even here in America, states regularly restrict certain letter combinations on license plates. Tags like "SEXVAN" and "KSMYBT" have been given the kibosh (even though "PRNOSTR" made it through). A New York police officer who wanted a "GETOSAMA" plate was even denied. It hasn't been explained why "USA" is on the list of Saudi Arabia's banned words, but such plates and 90,000 others like it are being recalled and replaced with something more acceptable.
[Source: BBC | Photo: Saudi Jeans]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
henrykrinkle 3:30PM (4/14/2009)
"USA" banned but I bet "US $" is accepted.
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the_MVP_X 3:45PM (4/14/2009)
Me too, they love that one, in other words GO Tesla.
SteveRB 4:01PM (4/14/2009)
Now that the Saudi authorities have solved this problem, they can go back to stoning women.
Blackstar 5:06PM (4/14/2009)
Hmm... can you get that on a plate? STNWMN
I wonder if GWB is also banned? One would hope so.
tekd 2:21AM (4/15/2009)
They're just trying to stop the driver from being stoned to death by extremists. Putting on a plate like that in the Middle East is like putting on an AL QAEDA plate in the US.
ripslymemc 3:31PM (4/14/2009)
so saudi officers have to write ALL THAT down before issuing a ticket?! well then, score one for the people.
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Ken 5:08PM (4/14/2009)
It's four numbers and three letters, just written twice, once in Greek letters and the other in whatever text they use in Saudi.
Dave 3:32PM (4/14/2009)
It makes sense. There is a lot of anti-USA sentiment over there, not necessarily from the government. The last thing the empire wants is to be sued because someone's "USA" license plate got their Bugatti Veyron vandalized.
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Kooshball 3:40PM (4/14/2009)
yep, i'm 99% sure that's what it is. the gov't basically doesn't want anyone to say the arab equivalent of "f*ck USA" on their plates.
Patrick 5:59PM (4/14/2009)
Our money is welcomed there but our modern ethical practices like equal treatment of women and minorities are not. They must hate that we actually allow females to drive and show skin!
adam1drift 3:37PM (4/14/2009)
but Obama is president? I thought everyone loved the USA now?
is USA a bad word still?
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Mazda FTW! 3:43PM (4/14/2009)
Haha I can't wait for Obama to start realizing the world doesn't operate like a Oprah taping.
Polly Prissy Pants 3:58PM (4/14/2009)
Yep, unfortunately it'll take decades to reverse all the ill will generated over the past 8 years.
adam1drift 4:02PM (4/14/2009)
"Polly Prissy Pants
Yep, unfortunately it'll take decades to reverse all the ill will generated over the past 8 years."
LOL right... Bush did it.... what losers we americans are...
Smegley 8:29PM (4/14/2009)
USA not allowed? I guess Obama didn't bow deep enough to the King.
Anyway, I think I'll apply for one ... FU OBAMA
Yikes 9:08AM (4/15/2009)
Aren't you proud that Obama bowed like a good little servant to the King of Saudi Arabia.
Now run along little Obama and go wash my Rolls!
LDMAN 3:38PM (4/14/2009)
As long as 69 is not banned I am fine with this :-)
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010111 6:18AM (4/15/2009)
oddly enough... i was denied "23 X 3" on a '69 Chevelle because it was lewd. that is what the letter from the DMV said. "23 x 3" was lewd.
but the "69" plate they already issued was not lewd for some reason. nor the "1969" plate... nor numerous other actually vaguely questionable plates i've seen issued.
apparently they were smart enough to do the simple math but not smart enough to think the answer to the math problem *just might* have something to do with the model year of the vehicle it was being purchased for...
ken_aisin 4:08PM (4/14/2009)
How about U-ESS-EI?
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Enok 4:23PM (4/14/2009)
Has anyone called 2 Live Crew about this? This is good material.
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