News Release Archive
USINESS/CONSUMER SERVICES--PERSONAL PLATES KEEP 'EM GUESSING
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You're driving down the street and you meet a vehicle sporting
the licence plate BOXERS. Shorts or fighters? you wonder. And
then, APPLE. Does that mean she eats apples, grows apples or,
perhaps, she works on a Mac?
If you are like most Nova Scotians, personalized plates keep you
guessing.
Since personalized plates were introduced in April 1989, more
than 7,000 Nova Scotians have chosen them as a way to express
themselves -- with ARLENE being the first.
"Personalized licence plates are a unique form of expression.
And, like people, there are no two alike," said Sandy Jolly,
business and consumer services minister. "Here at the department,
we have no way of knowing the meaning for sure, but like everyone
else, we can speculate."
Some plates, such as PAWSOFF, NOT4YOU and TRUSTNO1, are clear in
their meaning. Others ask a direct question, RU NUTS? Still
others are barely visible as the vehicle speeds toward the
horizon: EATDUST, IZIPBYE and FASTRNU.
Many licence plates broadcast occupations. Consider T2TH MD,
FYRFYTR, TOOLMAN, REALST8, INKEEPR, MRY KAY, DOGRUMR and IRENOV8.
What about 1MAYTAG? Is he "lonely at the top"?
Even more plates indicate leisure activities: JUJITSU, I CANOE,
WNDSURF, GOT2SKI, LOV2FLY, I DANCE and FLYFISH. Especially at
this time of year, golf is in a category of its own. Tee off with
HOLE N1, 19 HOLE and MYCADDY -- and then UPTAPAR? Musicians and
sports fans also share the road, as evidenced by BIGBAND, VIOLIN,
HABSFAN, NYYANKS, BOSOXR1 and PHILS.
There are some indications that parents double as chauffeurs:
AMYSCAB, KIDCAGE and BRATPAC. Would that mean the father is
AGRTDAD or is it MOTHER? Are DADSGRL and 2NDCHLD in the car, too?
Geographic references abound. To celebrate their roots, one
driver blows the horn for ARISAIG, while TEXSGRL leaves no doubt
about where she's from. USA 1, O CANADA could have been the score
from a World Cup of Hockey game. BLUBYU and BLUBYEU must be close
neighbours. Expatriates from islands in the North Atlantic and
South Pacific are equally proud of their homelands as NFLD1 and
KIWI 1 would indicate. Language can also be an indication of
origin, with SLAINTE being a Gaelic toast and PLAYA being the
Spanish word for beach.
The old Queen song said "I'm in love with my car" and apparently
the owners of MG 51, MY74BUG, 396 MUSL and 73MACH1 would agree.
Plate perusing could make a person hungry. No problem! Here comes
BAGEL, HAGGIS1, EATSUBS and EAT ALG. Now does that really mean
"eat algae?" COOL EH?
Even if you are NIFTY50, you are NOT2OLD to order a personalized
plate -- but they do come with some terms and conditions.
Certain slogans, including words or symbols that are socially
unacceptable, offensive or not in good taste, will not be
approved. Dots, dashes and other symbols are not allowed. Each
plate must have a minimum of two and a maximum of seven digits or
letters. There is an initial fee of $70 (plus HST) for
personalized plates and an annual renewal fee of $20 (plus HST).
If you decide to GOFORIT, contact the Registry of Motor Vehicles
Call Centre at 1-800-898-7668.
B4IGO, I SWEAR I will put in a plug 4CANADA. LETS GO and GROW NS,
too! I'm just going to pull over to the side of the road and
catch some ZZZZZZZ. C U L8R!
-30-
Contact: Louise MacDonald
Business and Consumer Services
902-424-0394
trp June 9, 1997 - 12:15 p.m.
