While the gay-themed plates are a new issue for the Motor Vehicles Division, it is not uncommon for license plates to be denied, said Barry Conover, deputy executive director of the commission. For instance, "REDSKIN" and "REDSKNS" plates were determined to be racially offensive by the Utah Supreme Court in 1999, even though they referenced the football team, not Native Americans. On the other hand, a plate thanking God was permitted by the commission after first being denied.

There are a number of reasons to prohibit plates, Conover said, and even though sexual references or double-entendres constitute the majority of denials, public safety is actually one of the primary concerns. Plates that advocate gang violence or racial hatred are among those posing the biggest problems, and because they often use street slang, can be the most difficult to interpret.

Personalized plates actually cause enough problems that Conover said he would prefer that they not be allowed, although that would cause "a lot of public outcry" from people who want to express their enthusiasm for their hobby, family or self. So the content must be limited.

"A license plate's whole purpose is to identify the vehicle and protect the owner," he said. "It was never designed to be a place for a public forum."

If and when Solomon is allowed to display her gay rights vanity plate, she fully expects her vehicle to be vandalized.

"I'm very prepared to have my car keyed and my tires slashed," she said. "I'll just get it fixed. It won't stop me, I'll buy more cars and get more plates."

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Contributing: Mark Thiessen, Associated Press

E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com

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