State rebuffs plate complaint Rapid City woman allowed to keep license tags reading 'MPEACHW' By Staff Reports
The South Dakota Department of Revenue and Regulation's Division of Motor Vehicles decided Monday against recalling a Rapid City woman's license plate that encourages the impeachment of President Bush.
It boiled down to the law.
"After reviewing case law on this issue, we have determined that the plate will not be recalled," department head Paul Kinsman said.
The personalized license plate, which reads MPEACHW, was issued to Heather Morijah of Rapid City. She has the plates mounted on her silver 2005 Prius.
An unnamed critic of the plates complained to the state, causing officials to look into the matter and consider recalling the plates.
State officials even said last week they might send law enforcement officers to get the plates if Morijah did not voluntarily turn them in.
That idea didn't sit well with Morijah, who works as a conservation coordinator for the Sierra Club. She called it a free speech issue.
"Having these plates is sort of my way of throwing bricks," she said during an interview, during which she vowed to stand her ground.
State law allows personalized plates with as many as seven letters for an extra $25 fee. But it gives DMV officials the right to refuse to issue "any letter combination which carries connotations offensive to good taste and decency."
The state determined the plates don't cross that line.
Deb Hillmer, DMV director, said last week that, "If we get a valid complaint about a plate, then we'll recall it."
Morijah said from the start she couldn't see that happening.
"The opinions and the messages belong to the person driving the car," she said.