WPBN: Regarding the issuance of a customized license plate that the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) recognized as “unacceptable and disturbing,” the government has formally apologized. According to reports, the plate in question contained hate speech about the October 7 attack on Israel, which claimed a large number of lives and sparked an ongoing conflict.
StopAntisemitism, a watchdog group, exposed the issue by sharing a picture of the license plate on the social networking site X (previously known as Twitter).
The license plate, which was affixed to a Tesla Cybertruck, read “LOLOCT7,” a play on the words “laughing aloud” (“LOL”) and the date of October 7.
This date commemorates the horrific Hamas militant attack in Israel that killed around 1,200 people and led to the kidnapping of about 250 more. Since then, Israel has continued to retaliate in Gaza for the strike.
The car was seen in Culver City, at the intersection of Jefferson and Sepulveda boulevards, according to the watchdog group. On social media, the license plate received a lot of backlash for glorifying a terrorist attack on the Jewish community.
According to a statement issued by the California DMV via X on Thursday, the agency is “taking swift action to recall these shocking plates.”
StopAntisemitism is appalled by the sickening display on a Cyber Truck plate in California, celebrating terrorism against the Jewish people. pic.twitter.com/n6e0d07sWY
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) December 12, 2024
To make sure that this kind of error doesn’t happen again, the DMV also pledged to improve its internal review procedures. An apology was also included in the message, stating that the plate’s acceptance was a grave mistake and that it should have been rejected during the first assessment.
According to a DMV representative, the plate’s issuance constituted a blatant transgression of the agency’s policies. Many people contacted the department to voice their concerns about the inappropriate nature of the statement after the plate was noticed on social media.
The DMV apologized for the damage done and reaffirmed its resolve to enhance its protocols in order to stop future occurrences of this kind.
“The use of hateful language is not only a clear violation of our policies but also a violation of our core values to proudly serve the public and ensure safe and welcoming roadways,” according to the statement.
The spokeswoman for the department stated that the owner of the license plate will be informed about the language on their plate as well as the recall of their license plate. It is possible for the owner of the car to file an appeal against the decision made by the department.
A spokeswoman for the department stated that they will examine their database of license plates in order to determine whether or not any other license plates contain any combinations of this obscene text and then immediately recall those license plates.
“StopAntisemitism was appalled to discover a vehicle with a license plate glorifying the 10/7 massacre of innocent Israelis,” Liora Rez, executive director of the organization stated.
“With the swift action of thousands of emails from our committed supporters, the California DMV has now recalled the plate,” she stated.
More DMV coverage:
- DMV Confirms Your License Is No Longer Accepted for Travel in the Country
- New DMV Procedure for Driver’s Licenses: What Changed and How It Affects You
- California DMV Modernization: What’s New in the Latest Changes?
- Big DMV Changes in NYS: How it Brings Higher Points and Insurance Costs for Bad Drivers?
