Fort Worth man got political about Trump on his license plate. Then Texas revoked it.
A Fort Worth man wanted to show his frustration with President Donald Trump.
So last year, Jerry Balkenbush requested a personalized license plate that stated “Jail 45,” the Texas Tribune reported.
The plate was approved by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and sent to him.
He put the license plate on his car late last year and drove it until a complaint was logged with the state that prompted DMV officials to revoke it.
“In my view, (Trump) is a crook and needs to go to jail,” Balkenbush said after the fact, according to the Texas Tribune. “I really feel like it was a violation of my freedom of speech against the government.”
The department constantly reviews proposed personalized license plates and rejects thousands of proposals each year.
In 2018, nearly 3,800 proposed plates were rejected — including those with proposed messages such as SNO FLK, DMPTRUMP, LOKHMUP.
State workers look for indecent, vulgar, racist or derogatory terms as well as for references to gangs or illegal activities, implied threats of harm and references to illegal drugs, sexual acts and bodily functions.
The complaint about Balkenbush’s plates was received Dec. 3 and reviewed Dec. 12, Adam Shaivitz, a spokesman for the department, told the Star-Telegram on Thursday.
A letter of cancellation was sent to Balkenbush on Dec. 18.
The department “will re-evaluate plates if we receive a complaint,” Shaivitz said.
In fact, 19 personalized plates were revoked in the 2019 fiscal year, he said.
Once Balkenbush received a letter from the DMV telling him the plate was being revoked, he took to Facebook to express his opinion, the Texas Tribune reported.
His options were to choose a replacement license plate, get a regular license plate or appeal the ruling.
Balkenbush decided to pick a new personalized plate — and he should soon receive the replacement.
The license plate he requested?
It simply says “Obama.”
“Sometimes blessings come in at the right time,” Balkenbush posted on Facebook after receiving his new plate. “This is what I exchanged my JAIL 45 plates for, and I get to keep my old plates as souvenirs.
“I had no clue that Obama by itself would be available. Thank you everyone for your support!!!”
This story was originally published January 10, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
