SMRTR

In English: Smarter, smart car

Dear Jane Personalized,

We know you're trying. Really hard. You bought your cute little yellow smart car, which helps identify you as a forward-thinking person worried about the environment. That's fantastic. You also have a license plate pledging your support for breast cancer research. Highly commendable. And also, we realize that apparently if you buy a Smart Car, you sign a contract pledging to get a personalized license plate referencing the fact you bought a Smart Car. There are no winners in this situation, we know. But with that said, never, we repeat, never, go the easy route when you are getting a personalized plate with the word "smart" on it. Because doing so, and misspelling said word, either to indicated that you are "smarter" than someone else or that you have a "smart car" but don't have room for the c, a, or other a, might reflect poorly on you in the end. You might not appear smart or smarter. You might appear SMRT.

Cordially,
Plate Shame, esquire

BAD PUN

In English:Bad pun

Plate Shame is stumped by this one, folks. We're going to go the high road and say that the person here is making fun of other people with personalized plates, but they still paid money to have this plate made. After some deliberation, we've decided that personlized plate purchase + ironic personalizing, still = lame.

TONTO5

In English: Tonto 5

Here it is once again, folks: another occurrence of someone picking an unoriginal plate, then adding a number to make theirs "different." Unless your family name is Tonto and you're the fifth son, god forbid, come up with something a little more clever, kemosabe.

LIBRAWL

In English: Liberal, librawl

There has been much debate in Plate Shame circles about this plate, one some have dubbed "acceptable". Regardless of your position on the political kaleidoscope, we can all agree that the person with this plate wouldn't shy away from the WAR in welfare or the ACTION in affirmative action. Courtesy of Dorian C-M.

N2TH8R

In English: Into theater

Plate Shame has noticed a disturbing trend of thespians announcing love for their craft on license plates. Combined with the "I'm a musician" license plate guard (holder? frame?), this packs quite an artistic wallop. If there were only some way to get LIK2DRA or ICNPNT on their somewhere as well...

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Plate Shame loves golf!

If you're from a cold part of the country, or one that has less disposable income, you probably don't understand some people's fascination with golf. We at Plate Shame live in Arizona, land of the 1,000-acre golf courses despite the fact it never rains here, and we still don't understand. Nonetheless, we feel it is our duty to highlight those who do.



TGRWNAB

In English: Tiger Wannabe

Assuming the owner of this car isn't on a mission to cover themselves with orange and black stripes and chase wild boar through the jungle, we should applaud him/her for understanding their position on golf's totem pole. Don't worry, you'll get there some day. Go get 'em, umm...puma? meerkat?



OUT2GLF

In English: Out to golf

The owner of this car/plate isn't afraid to let people know how he rolls. Slowly, down miraculously green pastures inhabited by stooped over old men who lease cars instead of buying them and make up 99.5 % of the Salisbury Steak market. (I have had one from time to time, folks). He parks his car next to the Hyundai Elantra with the LUV2WRK plate, no doubt.

KECH UM

In English: Catch them

It doesn't take a larger photo to guess that this license plate belongs to a man with a large pick-up truck. What exactly it is he wants to catch is the big question, but odds are it has antlers or a "Change" sticker on the bumper of its car.

BO JAY

In English:  BO   JAY

****Guest Post from Greggie B, professional photojournalist****

What? Was BLO JAY already taken?

****End Guest Post*******

Greg has been a reluctant but prolific plate collector.  In fact, his most recent email had the subject line, "I wish I knew how to quit you."  We know you're hooked, pal!  Lie back and enjoy it.