Michigan License Plates too Naughty for the Road
Michigan License Plates too Naughty for the Road 03BUTT, 0GIVEN, and OHMYGOD are just some of the 20,000-plus words the Michigan Department of State won’t allow. According to MLive.com, these…
Michigan License Plates too Naughty for the Road
03BUTT, 0GIVEN, and OHMYGOD are just some of the 20,000-plus words the Michigan Department of State won't allow. According to MLive.com, these words are just too crude, political, or dirty for Michigan license plates.
Some are pretty obvious why they were rejected and I won't retype them, but you can see the whole list here. Others are a bit of a stretch that I think is a little over-cautious. Is "OHHHHH" really that bad? Does the MDS think that's sexual?
Per the state law the following rules apply when you want that new vanity plate:
- Are profane, obscene, sexually explicit or graphic, excretory-related or depicting a swear word
- Describe intimate body parts
- Describe drugs or alcohol, including their use or culture (ex. ‘M00NSHN’)
- Describe illegal activities or illegal substances (ex. ‘MAFIA’)
- Substantially interfere with law enforcement’s IDing of plates
- Disparage, promote or condone hate or violence against a business, group or person (ex. ‘H8C0PS’)
- Conflict with Michigan’s license plate number system
No WIENER Michigan plate for you sir!
The Secretary of State actually has 25 employees and their job is to review these license plates. I would love to sit in on those meetings. Or that Zoom. You know it has to be a Zoom meeting. "Okay next up on the list is DCKBUT, yay or nay?" A bunch of rumbling then the hilarious name you spent your entire bathroom break coming up with is BANNED!
There's a 3 step process to get your plate approved. The above team reviews and flags all the violations. Another compiles all the flagged plates and sends them to a committee that has a final decision. Then another committee considers alternate options.
Your plates will be banned for being politically charged. You mess with a company's logo or brand and that can also be banned. For example "E1NER" on a Western Michigan University plate because W of the logo completes the "naughty word". I mean come on, WIENER? Remember when Kramer on Seinfeld was the Assman? Bet that wouldn't work with our MDS!
Show off your cool plates in this cool city:
Michigan Has the ‘Coolest City in America with the Lowest Cost of Living’
Often times, the cool cities to live in aren't necessarily the most reasonable. Many cities that are considered trendy and cool are simply very expensive to reside in. One Michigan city, though, is apparently super cool and has a low cost of living, ranking No. 1 on a list of the coolest cities in America with the lowest cost of living.
The list comes from PureWow.com, with the outlet naming their "10 Coolest Cities with the Lowest Cost of Living in the U.S." In the study, they state, "Sure, you could find the absolute cheapest city in the country, pack up all your things and head out. But even if your money goes a long way, if there’s nothing around, you’ll have nowhere to spend it. What about the food? The drinks? The arts? The entertainment? For some, we want the best of both worlds."
As for how they did the study, PureWow.com "cross-referenced data from the Council for Community and Economic Research's Cost of Living Index (for reference, the U.S. cost of living benchmark average is 100, so anything under that is good) with some qualitative analyses (like, is there anything to do in these towns?) to find the happy meeting place of the coolest and most affordable cities in the country."
As mentioned above, one Michiagn town is actually No. 1 on this list, which is pretty mind-boggling. The rest of the picks comes from all across America. Look below to find the list, and for more information and the methodology , visit PureWow.com here.
10. GREENVILLE, SC
When it comes to art and food, PureWow.com says Greenville is "somewhat of a haven for creatives with its nice weather and friendly prices."
9. INDIANAPOLIS, IN
They're home to the Indy 500 but have so much more to offer!
8. HUNTSVILLE, AL
Fun fact: Huntsville is nicknamed Rocket City.
7. GREEN BAY, WI
Don't hold the Packers against them! ; )
6. DES MOINES, IA
One highlight is the historic Des Moines Art Center.
5. SAVANNAH, GA
If you want a mix of city life and still be in a coastal city.
4. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
"Oklahoma City has plenty of hustle without all the hassle," says the city's Visitor's Bureau.
3. FAYETTEVILLE, AR
This is an off-the-radar pick, offering a cool city at a great living rate.
2. KNOXVILLE, TN
Nashville what? Knoxville offers nightlife, shopping, restaurants and more.
1. KALAMAZOO, MI
PureWow.com states, "With the lowest cost of living composite index on this list, from groceries to housing (and a relatively low state income sales tax), you’ll find your dollar can probably go further here than other Mitten-state enclaves, like Ann Arbor or Grand Rapids. But what gives Kalamazoo the “cool” factor? The ‘Zoo is unique. It’s a mid-sized city that packs both a small-town and big-city punch—so you get your chili cook offs, farmers markets and your visual and performing arts too. Yes, you can have it all."
The 10 Coolest Cities with the Lowest Cost of Living in the U.S.
This list is via <a href="https://www.purewow.com/travel/coolest-most-affordable-cities-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PureWow.com</a>.
