Nearly 9,000 Texas personalized license plates were rejected in 2021. Here's why.

Since 1965, Texans have been able to use a combination of alphanumeric characters, spaces and symbols — including hyphens, periods, hearts, stars or a silhouette of Texas — to make their license plates unique.

In 2021, there were more than 85,000 requests for personalized license plates from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Nearly 9,000 were rejected.

The Caller-Times requested the thousands of denied personalized license plates. While some seemed innocuous — more than 120 showed Texas pride — many were inappropriate.

More than 500 referred to sexual acts, more than 400 included vulgar words, more than 60 referred to drugs or alcohol, more than 250 were political and 45 requests dealt with excretory functions — yes, poop jokes.

Some of the rejected patterns we're comfortable with sharing include:

• BQQBS
• OLD AF
• IN REHAB
• TX-CHICK
• LETZGOB
• POOOPS

Why you could be denied

• The pattern conflicts with a current or proposed pattern featured on other license plates issued by the state.
• The pattern is considered objectionable, misleading or could be viewed directly or indirectly as:
  • Indecent: including a reference to a sexual act; sexual body parts, excretory or bodily fluids of functions; or a "69" format.
  • Vulgar: swear or curse words.
  • Derogatory: words that belittle, demean or disparage any person, group, race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation or associated with an organization that advocates such expressions.
  • Referring to race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, whether the reference is derogatory or not.
  • An illegal activity: including gangs, violence, implied threats of harm or expressions that describe, advertise, advocate, promote, encourage, glorify or condone violence, crime or unlawful conduct.
  • An illegal drug or a controlled substance or the physiological state produced by such substances, intoxicated states or expressions that describe, advertise, advocate, promote, encourage or glorify such items or states.
  • A representation of, or reference to, law enforcement, military branches or other governmental entities and their titles. This includes any reference or acronym for law enforcement, military branches, public or official governmental office, position or status; or law enforcement, military rank or status.
  • A pattern set aside exclusively for use on military or other restricted use license plates, like "DV" for disabled veterans.

According to the TxDMV's state administrative code, a canceled pattern may be appealed to the executive director of the department, or the director's designee, within 20 days of non-issuance. All appeals must be in writing and the requesting party may include any written arguments, but shall not be entitled to a contested case hearing.

The executive director or designee will consider the party's arguments and issue a decision no later than 30 days after submission of the appeal. The decision will be final and cannot be reappealed.

Francisco "Frank" Morales, a senior litigator at Corpus Christi's Federal Public Defender, Southern District of Texas, said his personalized pattern was approved in ample time.

"All they have to do is check that no other plate like that exists," Morales said. "It's instantaneous."

Morales said his design, DEFEND, was his first choice. He said he had to make one payment of $500 to have the plates for 10 years.

"As a criminal defense attorney, it was perfect for me," Morales said.

To request a personalized license plate, the TxDMV asks people to visit myplates.com. Applicants can choose from a variety of plate designs and opt for their own special pattern. After selecting your design, you are given different price options including an annual renewal for $150, $400 for three years and $450 for five years.