DVLA Bans Couple’s Number Plate Over ‘Potentially Offensive’ Combo
A couple’s cherished number plate was banned by the DVLA due to concerns it could be offensive, leaving them shocked and frustrated.
Bristol, UK, DVLA, Number Plate, Bristol Rovers, Jackie Cooke, John Cooke
Bristol: So, there’s this couple, Jackie and John Cooke, who’ve had their personalized number plate for nearly 30 years. They got it back in ’97, and it reads ‘N14 GAS’. It’s a nod to their favorite football team, Bristol Rovers, and means ‘Number one for the Gas’. But recently, the DVLA decided to ban it, claiming it could be offensive.
Now, the DVLA thinks it might be mistaken for a racial slur, but Jackie and John are scratching their heads. They can’t figure out how it could be seen that way. Jackie even mentioned that in all those years, no one ever complained about it being offensive.
She told BristolLive, “I’ve asked the DVLA to explain why it’s offensive, but I haven’t heard back yet.” They were totally blindsided when they found out their plate was removed from the GOV website without any heads-up. The DVLA sent a letter saying they needed to switch to a new plate because of the ‘potentially offensive nature’ of ‘N14 GAS’.
According to the DVLA, they can revoke a number plate if it might offend people. They try to catch these things before they go out, but sometimes they slip through. Jackie and John were offered a new plate worth £250, which is what they paid back in ’97. Jackie was pretty upset about it, saying, “We still have the receipt, and no one mentioned inflation!”
They were given a temporary plate, ‘JJ64GAS’, but they’re still hoping to get their original back. Jackie even reached out to her local MP, who mentioned that the number could be misinterpreted as something offensive. It’s a wild situation, and they’re just trying to figure it all out.