Back for a minute with a wee Debbie Downer:
Associated Press – September 23, 2007 6:55 PM ET
MERLIN, Ore. (AP) - A southern Oregon family has been ordered to turn in the vanity license plates for their cars because the state finds their Dutch name can be interpreted as offensive.
The plates UDINK1 UDINK2 and UDINK3 are on the vehicles of Mike and Shelly Udink and their son, who live in Merlin.
The plates were deemed offensive by a ten-person Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division panel that approves custom plates.
One panel wrote that Dink has several derogatory meanings and can be a racial slur, especially toward Vietnamese.
Mike Udink says his name is common in The Netherlands, and wonders how a panel can dictate that someone’s name is offensive.
A DMV spokesman says the state has the right to censor license plates because the state owns them.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
