Utah Moves To Tighten Review Of Personalized License Plates After Public Backlash

Controversial Plate Sparks Debate on Free Speech and State Policy
Salt Lake City, UT — A recent controversy surrounding a Utah license plate displaying the term “DEPORTM” has prompted state officials to reconsider how personalized license plates are reviewed and approved. The incident has raised questions about oversight, free speech boundaries, and the balance between expression and community values.
At the heart of the matter is a license plate that appeared to reference immigration in a potentially offensive way. While Utah has strict rules governing what can appear on personalized plates, this particular case slipped through the cracks and has now become a catalyst for change.
How the System Works — and How It FailedUtah’s Motor Vehicles Division, part of the Utah Tax Commission, typically screens vanity plate applications based on a set of content guidelines. These include bans on language that is:
Vulgar or obscene
Related to drugs or controlled substances
Referencing adult or suggestive content
Dangerous, inciting, or contemptuous toward any group based on race, religion, or political opinion
Despite these safeguards, the plate in question—approved in 2015—made it onto public roads. According to Scott Smith, Executive Director of the Utah Tax Commission, the plate should have been flagged during initial processing or at the time of later complaints.