U.S. court turns down 'JN36TN'

Rutland Herald ^ | September 1, 2005 | Alan J. Keays

[ConservativeStatement]

A federal judge has rejected the latest bid by a West Rutland man to get a vanity plate with a biblical message.

U.S. District Court Judge J. Garvan Murtha agreed with an earlier ruling by a federal magistrate denying Shawn Byrne's request for an injunction against the state Department of Motor Vehicles. The injunction would have allowed Byrne to get his vanity license plate with "JN36TN."

[Tax-chick]

On the one hand, what a stupid thing for the state DMV to do. On the other hand, Federal intervention into state license plates seems pretty stupid, too.

Maybe the guy should just get a bumper sticker, and save the vanity-plate money.

[Texas_Jarhead]

"The state contended — and Byrne lawyers conceded — two of his requests on his vanity plate application, "JOHN316" and "JN316" did not meet a provision for vanity plates in Vermont. The provision states that vanity license plates may not contain more than two numerals to avoid confusion with standard-issued license plates."

"However, the state also rejected Byrne's third vanity license plate choice, "JN36TN," arguing that it contains a religious viewpoint."

[Arkie2]

He could get a plate with VMTSKS. I bet they would allow that.

[andyk]

The state contended — and Byrne lawyers conceded — two of his requests on his vanity plate application, "JOHN316" and "JN316" did not meet a provision for vanity plates in Vermont. The provision states that vanity license plates may not contain more than two numerals to avoid confusion with standard-issued license plates. However, the state also rejected Byrne's third vanity license plate choice, "JN36TN," arguing that it contains a religious viewpoint.

What argument will they use next? Apparently they didn't think that JN316 was religious, or were afraid of using that argument unless completely necessary.

[Tax-chick]

LOL!

[ThePythonicCow]

"However, the state also rejected Byrne's third vanity license plate choice, "JN36TN," arguing that it contains a religious viewpoint."

Good grief.

[ThePythonicCow]

VMTSKS

Dare I ask what that stands for?

[Texas_Jarhead]

I'm guessing Vermont Sucks...

[ThePythonicCow]

Ah - I got it. This bit of insanity came from the great state of Vermont (VMT), and something sucks (SKS) big time here.

[ThePythonicCow]

Yup. My guess too, now.

[Moonman62]

VTSUX

[who knows what evil?]

The Rutland Herald is often referred to by locals as the "Baghdad Herald".

[sirchtruth]

U.S. District Court Judge J. Garvan Murtha

This is the same usurper that has reinstated the James Woodward fiasco here in Brattleboro.

What a complete dolt.

[CzarNicky]

"JN36TN."

For a while in Ohio that could have been an actual license plate number until they changed the numbering scheme again.

[Nateman]

MOVTBS

[sirchtruth]

The Rutland Herald is often referred to by locals as the "Baghdad Herald".

I dare you to nick the Brattleboro Reformer...a trite little bastion of lunacy and idiocy so stark it's already a soiled rag.

[ThePythonicCow]

You from Texas, I presume? I live on the Left Coast, surrounded by lunies.

Any suggestions on a good place to move to in Texas? About all I need is a decent little (or medium sized) town with a fast internet connection and a Wal-Mart's within driving distance. Preferrably not within 50 miles of the Gulf or the border, the source of two of the headline catastrophies of late. That should narrow it right down to any of 10,000 towns ;).

My sister, who is getting on in years and Catholic, might need to move in with me. So I should be in walking distance of a Catholic Church.

I'm in no hurry - sometime in a couple years perhaps.

[who knows what evil?]

I believe the Rutland paper received its nick from a local talk show host. It has been aired so much that it has stuck with a lot of local residents. I doubt that any paper published in Vermont could consider itself slightly to the right of the New York Times.

[sine_nomine]

I couldn't even tell what he was getting at with those letters! Really.