Melbourne cleaner's licence plate cancelled over 'offensive' reference to COVID-19
A Melbourne cleaner's licence plates have been cancelled after being deemed "offensive" by the Department of Transport for making reference to COVID-19.
Peter Smith runs an infectious cleaning business and got the custom number plates 'CVD 19' made for his truck last April.
"In the context of a truck equipped to fight this virus , I don't see them being anything other than supportive," he said.
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A Melbourne cleaner's licence plates have been cancelled after being deemed "offensive" by the Department of Transport. Nine
However, VicRoads sent the 66-year-old veteran a letter last week, informing him his plates have been cancelled as they have "specific negative references" and must be handed in by July 29.
"Oh come on guys, surely you've got bigger and better things to do than this," Mr Smith said.
A local garbo agreed it was a rubbish move.
"The government needs to stop picking on people about silly things like number plates," he said.
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VicRoads issued Mr Smith the letter last week, deeming the plates "offensive". Nine
Another local said they'd seen far more offensive number plates.
Mr Smith said no one's ever complained to him about the number plates - in fact, he's had the total opposite response.
"It's only ever received compliments - the police have taken selfies with it," he said.
"The army has taken selfies with it on the border."
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Mr Smith thought the plates would if anything indicate he and his truck are in the business of fighting coronavirus. Nine
Mr Smith has been told to hand the plates in by the end of the month.
The Department of Transport in a statement said it had received a complaint about the number plate, prompting a review.
The review deemed the plates as "insensitive" given the catastrophic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and recalled the plates on that basis.
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The plates were cancelled on the basis that they were 'insensitive'. Nine
"The Department of Transport is sensitive to community expectations and standards regarding number plate content and reserves the right to recall number plates following community feedback," the statement read.
"There has been a complaint about number plate CVD19 and given all that Victorians have been through the complaint was upheld and the plates were recalled on the grounds it has been seen as insensitive.
"The terms and conditions that apply to custom plates are clearly stated on our website and include provisions to recall plates that are inappropriate or cause offense to the community."
Mr Smith is a big fan of custom plates, with his vintage caravan and ute a testament to that
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Mr Smith is a fan of vintage cars and personalised number plates, and intends to keep his CVD 19 set. Nine
"Hopefully they won't recall them," he said.
Mr Smith said he is happy to remove the COVID-19 plates from the cleaning-truck - on one condition - that he gets to keep them.
"They'll sit in my cupboard for posterity."
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