Kentucky man wins case in federal court, allowing his personalized license plate to say 'I'M GOD'

[Major Nikon]

A federal court today cleared the way for a Kentucky man, backed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the ACLU of Kentucky, to obtain a personalized license plate reading “IM GOD,” finding the Transportation Cabinet’s denial of that plate violated the First Amendment.

In November 2016, Ben Hart filed a lawsuit after he was denied the personalized license plate. Kentucky Division of Motor Vehicle officials, who have approved certain religious personalized plates, refused Hart’s request, initially calling his “IM GOD” license plate message “obscene or vulgar.” Later, the state said the plate was rejected because it was “not in good taste.” (While residing in Ohio, Hart had a similar license plate seen in the picture.)

The lawsuit, filed on Hart’s behalf by FFRF and ACLU of Kentucky, challenged the Transportation Cabinet’s denial of his plate based on statutory viewpoint restrictions that communicate religious, anti-religious or political messages.

“The Commonwealth [of Kentucky] went too far,” the U.S. District Court for the Eastern Court of Kentucky resoundingly ruled in favor of Hart.

https://www.nkytribune.com/2019/11/kentucky-man-wins-case-in-federal-court-allowing-his-personalized-license-plate-to-say-im-god/