Vietnam vet surprised over reason for license-plate denial

[Jazzy]

A Vietnam War veteran in Utah says he's surprised over the reason for the denial of his request for a personalized license plate commemorating the year he was wounded and awarded a Purple Heart.

Arnold Breitenbach of St. George sought a license plate with the designation CIB-69, representing the Combat Infantryman's Badge he received and the year he was awarded the Purple Heart.

The Utah Division of Motor Vehicles denied his request, citing state regulations prohibiting the use of the number 69 because of its sexual connotations.

"While your intended meaning behind the requested plate, CIB-69, is honorable, the Division of Motor Vehicles is required to follow Utah law when approving personalized plates," Division of Motor Vehicles audit manager Sherri Murray wrote him in a letter.

Breitenbach, who served as a gunner on an Army armored personnel carrier, said he doesn't think everyone has such a dirty mind that they would be offended.

Breitenbach wrote Gov. Gary Herbert asking for help with his cause, but he was referred to the established appeals process. His appeal was denied in January.

Breitenbach decided against a further appeal, saying it wasn't worth the time and expense. He ended up getting a Purple Heart logo on the license plate without the CIB-69 designation.

He was wounded when rocket-propelled grenades struck his armored personnel carrier while he was in the gun turret. He was temporarily blinded, but his Purple Heart came as a result of damage to his hearing, he said.

Source

I hope they at least allow him to use his alternate plate choice, DMV-SUX.

What are your thoughts?

 

[DirtRider]

Even if he just wanted to use 69 what happened to your right of expression then?

 

[DrLeftover]

It's Utah.

 

[mrldii]

I seriously doubt that "CIB-1969" is taken. ~Voila~...problem solved.

But, where's the drama - and press coverage - in actually finding a solution to one's *problems*, huh?

 

[Jazzy]

From the Utah DMV Website:
To apply for personalized plates, complete and sign Form TC-817, Application For Personalized Plates and submit with the required payment. The form allows you to submit up to three requested combinations of letters and numbers. You must also have a currently registered vehicle in the state of Utah on which to display the personalized plate and identify this vehicle on the application.

That's why he couldn't get the CIB-1969 so he went for CIB-69. I would have done a further appeal. How about businesses and homes with the address of 69? Do they make them flip the 6 over to make it a 9?

 

[mrldii]

"CIB-69", when sounded out, says "See? I be 69[n]", unless somebody understands that "CIB" stands for "Combat Infantryman's Badge", which I doubt most people would.

If "CIB-1969" is too many characters for Utah's regulations, I guess he's "SOL"...or needs to move to another state, if he feels that strongly about it.

 

[Sinon]

From the Utah DMV Website:
To apply for personalized plates, complete and sign Form TC-817, Application For Personalized Plates and submit with the required payment. The form allows you to submit up to three requested combinations of letters and numbers. You must also have a currently registered vehicle in the state of Utah on which to display the personalized plate and identify this vehicle on the application.

That's why he couldn't get the CIB-1969 so he went for CIB-69. I would have done a further appeal. How about businesses and homes with the address of 69? Do they make them flip the 6 over to make it a 9?

Wrong. The phrasing there means that he could have three options. The form itself shows that. In addition, the three choice sections each has 7 spaces (for a car plate), and since it's a personalised plate the hyphen doesn't need to be included. He could easily have gone for 'CIB1969'.

Notice the part that says 'No special characters (period, apostrophe, dash, etc.) may be used.'

 

[mrldii]

Wrong. The phrasing there means that he could have three options. The form itself shows that. In addition, the three choice sections each has 7 spaces (for a car plate), and since it's a personalised plate the hyphen doesn't need to be included. He could easily have gone for 'CIB1969'.
Notice the part that says 'No special characters (period, apostrophe, dash, etc.) may be used.'

Ahhhhh...so his plate was rejected for including a " - ", NOT for [perhaps] being read as "See...I be 69[n]".


Well, that just changes EVERYthing, then...and the guy's got no one but himself to blame, for not being able to read and follow instructions.

The story was much more dramatic the way he told it, though.