Offensive? Me?

I got this letter and a set of replacement plates in the mail today:

Dear Mr. Bir,

Thank you for participating in our personalize [sic] license plate program. We mistakenly issued you a personalized license plate [Ed. note: URBNAPE] that was in violation of our Personalized Plate Issuance Guidelines. Because so many personalized license plates are reviewed and issued daily, errors are sometimes made.

Our policy is not to issue any personalized plates that may contain any combination of characters that in any way carries a connotation that may be reasonably seen by a person viewing a license plate as socially, racially, or ethnically offensive or disparaging. I understand you may have grown fond of your personalized plates but because they are in violation of our guidelines, you must return them in the enclosed prepaid envelope within 30 days. Here are your new passenger plates, BLAH BLAH, along with the registration card and decals for your vehicle.

If you do not feel your personalized plates are in violation and strongly oppose relinquishing them, you may appeal this decision by submitting a written request to conduct an informal administrative proceeding, also include a statement as to why your plates are not in violation of our Guidelines as stated above. The administrative proceeding will provide an opportunity for you and the Agency to present evidence and argument as to why the personalized plates do or do not meet the Guidelines. If you wish to request an appeal, send your request to DMV Special License Plates, P.O. Box 26668, Room 519, Richmond, VA 23261-6668 and please include your daytime telephone number.

Yes, I might appeal that, but I might just let it slide. After all, Amber drives the car with those plates, and maybe she’s tired of being my billboard. I’ve got other personalized plates on the Land Cruiser. Hopefully no one finds ZACS TOY offensive.

If I do appeal, there are a few pieces of evidence I could submit:

• This website
• My Flickr account
• My Twitter account
• Every-single-online-social-whoozit-I-can-register-urbanape-with account

Ridiculous.