A couple who have had a personalised number plate showing off their love for their favourite football team for almost 30 years have had it withdrawn by the DVLA because it could be ‘offensive’.
Jackie and John Cooke, from Frampton Cotterell in North Bristol, purchased the registration number ‘N14GAS’ in 1997 from the DVLA and say that this exact number was recommended to them by staff there. As Bristol Rovers supporters, the numbers symbolised ‘Number one for the Gas’, the Gas being the nickname of their favourite footie team.
But just before Christmas, the couple, received a letter from the DVLA to say that their number plate had been withdrawn as it is ‘potentially offensive’ and could be read as a racial slur. The letter, which BristolLive has seen, reads: “The vehicle registration number has been brought to our attention as being potentially offensive.
“By law, the Secretary of State can revoke the right to display a vehicle registration number, if it appears to him that there are special reasons for doing so. Given the potentially offensive nature of this vehicle registration number, a decision has been taken to withdraw it from use.”
Jackie told BristolLive: “In 27 years, no one has ever complained about this registration number being offensive. In fact, we can’t see how it can possibly be offensive!
“I have asked the DVLA to explain why it is offensive, but as yet haven’t received a reply. The DVLA removed ‘N14GAS’ from the GOV website on Dec 4, before informing my husband, who is the registered keeper, so that must be an offence in itself.
“Our car registration was changed back to the original registration number, which we were totally unaware of, as the letter from the DVLA only arrived late in the day on Dec 7.”
A general view of the Memorial Stadium, home of Bristol Rovers
(Image: James Baylis – AMA/Getty Images)
The DVLA letter goes on to explain the couple’s replacement registration number and how they now need to contact their insurance company to notify them of the change, and get the new number plate fitted as soon as possible. The letter continues: “Before a new range of registration numbers are issued or are made available under the Personalised Registration scheme, DVLA tries to identify combinations that may cause offence.
“On occasions where the Agency is made aware that a potentially offensive registration number has been released in error, steps are immediately taken to withdraw it. I realise that the decision to withdraw this registration number will be disappointing to you.
“However, the Agency adopts a clear policy of withdrawing potentially offensive registration numbers either from normal issue or from its sales scheme. Such marks are withdrawn if they are likely to cause offence or embarrassment to the general population in this country on the grounds of political, racial and religious sensitivities, or simply because they are in poor taste.”
The DVLA told John and Jackie that they can choose another registration to the value of £250, which was what they paid in 1997. Jackie added: “We still have the receipt, no mention is made of inflation. We are incensed that we are to lose our treasured car registration and it is seriously affecting our mental health.”
Jackie and John have since received a letter dated December 17, detailing an alternative number plate registration ‘JJ64GAS’, which the couple have chosen as a temporary measure until, they hope, their original number plate can be reinstated.
Upon contacting her local MP recently, Jackie added that her MP told her that the registration number could be misconstrued as a certain offensive word. BristolLive has contacted the DVLA for comment on this matter.