Number Plates News

Is This Really The Spirit of America?

19 October 2009

In these days of political correctness and strict adherence to the dictats of a faceless bureaucracy, the 'Land of the Free' is not generally known for its submission to petty compliance.

However, an extraordinary story demonstrates that our American cousins are also starting to be plagued by enforcement of the letter of the law rather than by its spirit.

An anonymous report on a US website tells of a vehicle failing an inspection (equivalent to our 'MOT') because the licence plate holder had partly obscured the legend 'The Spirit of America'.

The slogan is merely an affectation imposed by the state of Massachusetts, where the incident occurred. Unfortunately, federal law appears to require that no part of the plate should be obscured by its housing and that all numbers, stickers and symbols must be clearly and completely visible.

This dispute may well run and run, however, because, in an obscure court ruling dating back to 1977, the Supreme Court held that a state cannot actually require their motto to be displayed on a number plate.

In this instance, moral objection to any particular sentiments represented by the phrase was the key. However, it seems likely that, since this is difficult to ascertain, the principle should hold good in all cases.

Back home, we can, perhaps, count ourselves lucky that European legislation has not so far succeeded in forcing us to display any such similar nonsense.