Custom license plates in Massachusetts: From PIZZAS to GUCCI what was approved in 2022

Norman Miller, The Enterprise
·2 min read

It's not unusual to see vanity license plates — those that spell out a word or have some sort of message.

The meanings aren't always obvious, but some are sort of self-explanatory, such as "PIZZA," PIZZA5" and "PIZZAS."

And one might presume that whoever drives around with the plate, "GUCCI," is a fan of the designer.

Those are just four of the 9,290 vanity plates approved last year by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. In all, 10,165 vanity plates were requested, but nearly 1,000 were rejected for various rules violations.

In a public records request, we asked for all of the different versions of license plates from last year. We at The Enterprise have compiled them into a searchable database for our subscribers to view.

Approved or Denied: Search Massachusetts's vanity plate requests in 2022

Anthony Killion, of Framingham and his vanity license plate, RFR, an acronym for "Running From Roots," pictured at the Framingham train station, July 21, 2023.
Anthony Killion, of Framingham and his vanity license plate, RFR, an acronym for "Running From Roots," pictured at the Framingham train station, July 21, 2023.

What guidelines are there for customized license plates?

The Registry of Motor Vehicles, which is overseen by MassDOT, has a committee that was formed in 2022 and which meets weekly to consider vanity license plate requests.

Vanity license plate requests can be rejected for many reasons: its meaning may not be clear, it contains profanity or offensive language, or it in any way sparks violence.

A list of approved license plates includes several for which the meaning may not be clear to the public, such as AAAAA (although AAAA was rejected), while others often feature names, like MRJOE. Sometimes, like pizza, food is the subject of the vanity plate, such as the Scottish dish, "HAGGIS," or "GUAC."

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A vanity license plate's message is often personal

Framingham resident Anthony Killion has a vanity plate that says "RFR," which may not resonate with other drivers. But it's important to him.

"It means 'Running from Roots,'" he said. "It's a mantra of mine. I didn't have the best family life growing up, but now I have a son and I'm working to change that and go beyond my roots."

Eileen Hennessey of Natick has a vanity license plate - "TWIN 61" to honor being an identical twin.
Eileen Hennessey of Natick has a vanity license plate - "TWIN 61" to honor being an identical twin.

Eileen Hennessey, of Natick, said she got her vanity license plate — "TWIN 61" — in honor of being a twin.

"Today there are lots of twins in the world, but in 1961, when I was born, an identical twin was quite rare," she said. "I didn't fully embrace the 'twin thing' until we were adults. I am extremely close to my twin (Erin) and proud of being a twin as well. What better way to let the world know I am a twin born in 1961 and proud to be one."

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: MA custom vanity license plates: Here's what was approved in 2022