Attorney General's News Release

April 15, 2002

Nixon calls for laws to prevent racist messages on license plates

Jefferson City, Mo. — Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon today called for legislative changes to keep racist and hate messages off state-sponsored vanity license plates. Nixon called for changes in Missouri law after the U.S. Supreme Court today refused his appeal to keep "ARYAN-1" off a license plate. Nixon said the name, which refers to white supremacist prison gangs and white supremacist groups, could prompt road rage and endanger the public.

"State-sponsored license plates are not the same as bumper stickers," Nixon said. "A citizen has the right to say whatever he or she pleases on a bumper sticker. The state, however, has a right to prevent vulgarity and other offensive and inflammatory messages from appearing on the state-manufactured plates."

Missouri law restricts messages that are "obscene, profane, inflammatory or contrary to public policy." The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, whose decision remains in place because of today's Supreme Court decision, ruled in June that the bars on plates that are "contrary to public policy" were too general. Nixon will suggest that the law be changed to specifically prevent hate messages and racially offensive messages.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818