Car enthusiast left furious after VicRoads cancels his ‘offensive’ registration plates
A Victorian man has been left angered after his personalised number plates were cancelled by VicRoads after being deemed too offensive. Now thousands of people have rallied behind the car enthusiast saying he should keep the plates.
South East
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A car enthusiast has been left furious after his personalised number plates were cancelled by VicRoads after they were deemed too offensive.
Peter Hansen, of Portland, who has had number plates with the word “WEPN” on his Torana for 10 years, has been left angered after VicRoads suddenly cancelled them this month.
“I’ve got another car, a HZ sedan and we were going to have the number plates registered under WEPN 2 … but we were told it wasn’t allowed as it referenced violence and they then cancelled my Torana plates,” Mr Hansen said.
“There are other number plates out there that are more offensive and VicRoads have refused to explain the process of how they decide this, it’s ludicrous,” he said.
“It sounds like there’s one person sitting behind a counter saying ‘WEPN’s offensive’.”
Mr Hansen said the Torana has been featured at dozens of legal drag races and was known among car enthusiasts.
“There’s never been a problem until now — I’ve always done the right thing on the road,” he said.
He said he attempted to take the fight to VCAT, but it was knocked back.
“VCAT rejected the appeal on the grounds that VicRoads aren’t breaking the law,’’ he said.
“These number plates belong to me. They’re my memories, I made the name and I’ll fight for them.”
Opposition road safety spokesman Brad Battin, who has started a survey asking Victorians what they think about the plates, said there was overwhelming support for Mr Hansen to keep his plates registered.
“There’s 2303 responses of which every single one of them has given us their email and postcode, so we know they’re all genuine,” Mr Battin said.
“Out of this 2289 have said the plates aren’t offensive and 14 say yes they are.”
He said he urged VicRoads to reconsider its decision.
“If someone is offended by the word weapon, does this mean we need to ban the Essendon Bombers or every time Bruce Mcavaney refers to a full forward as a weapon?”
A Department of Transport spokesman said VicRoads reviewed number plate combinations from time to time and occasionally recalled any deemed inappropriate or offensive.
“VicRoads checks tens of thousands of new number plate combinations each year to prevent offensive or inappropriate plates being issued,” the spokesman said.
“We also reserve the right to recall number plates that may later be deemed offensive, disrespectful to the law or are inappropriate for display, such as plates that reference violence.”
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