California woman’s custom license plate causes a stir
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (NBC, KYMA) - A woman's California license plate is drawing push back. The driver says her custom plate has special meaning, but the DMV says the words could be seen as offensive.
For many, a Kia sedan is just a way of transportation, but for Isis Wharton, it's an extension of her identity.
"I'm proud of my name. I'm proud that it's on my car, and I feel like driving around. It looks cool," Wharton expressed.
On Friday, Wharton received a letter from the California DMV regarding her car's personalized license plate.
"Dear Isis Wharton, the Department of Motor Vehicles has reviewed its records, and it was determined that personalized license plates, [like] IAMISIS assigned to your Kia, contain a configuration of letters that are non-compliant with the requirements of Title 13," Wharton read.
Wharton purchased the $50 license plate in 2022 with no issues and has paid a $50 renewal ever since.
"I just did my registration in a couple months ago and they didn't say anything then either," Wharton shared.
The DMV now says the license plate goes against Section 206 of the California Code of Regulations and allows the agency to refuse plates that associate with anything illegal or violent adding, "Regardless of your intention, the configuration "I am Isis" can be construed as "I am Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)."
When asked what her reaction was when she read the letter, Wharton said, "I was surprised. My first reaction I was super surprised. I, was confused since I've had it for so long....And I was honestly super hurt."
"The free speech clause protects people saying their own messages on personalized license plates. And so most likely, the DMV is not going to be able to prevent her from saying that," said Leslie Jacobs, professor at McGeorge School of Law.
Jacobs weighed in on the situation, citing Whaton's license plate is protected under the First Amendment.
"The United States Supreme Court has said that specialty license plates, those are the ones like save like Lake Tahoe, can be government speech. And maybe, the government can prevent people from having specialty license plates, but these are personal license plates," Jacobs explained.
For now, Wharton is unsure what's next, but like the Egyptian goddess she was named after, her family nurturing with support.
"My mom was so upset. She loves my name, and she's always been a big advocate for anyone that's been offended by my name. And so she was the one that was like, you need to do something about that. Like, don't just change it. Like, do something about it," Wharton said.
