John and Jackie Cooke, from North Bristol, have had the same personalised number plate on their car for almost three decades, but it has now been revoked by the DVLA
A couple have been left “fuming” after a personalised number plate they picked almost 30 years ago in tribute to their football club was rejected for being “potentially offensive”.
Bristolians John and Jackie Cooke have driven with the registration ‘N14 GAS’ since 1997, as a nod to their beloved Bristol Rovers. The plate stands for “Number one for the Gas”, the club’s moniker.
The couple insisted that the number plate was actually suggested to them by DVLA staff when they first selected it. But 27 years on, and the same organisation has now recalled the number plate, following concerns it could be misconstrued as a slur.
The Cookes were sent a letter from the DVLA just before Christmas stating: “The vehicle registration number has been brought to our attention as being potentially offensive,” Bristol Live reports.
“By law, the Secretary of State can revoke the right to display a vehicle registration number, if it appears to him that there are special reasons for doing so. Given the potentially offensive nature of this vehicle registration number, a decision has been taken to withdraw it from use.”
Jackie said: “In 27 years, no-one has ever complained about this registration number being offensive. In fact, we can’t see how it can possibly be offensive.”
“I have asked the DVLA to explain why it is offensive, but as yet haven’t received a reply. The DVLA removed ‘N14GAS’ from the GOV website on December 4, before informing my husband, who is the registered keeper, so that must be an offence in itself.
“Our car registration was changed back to the original registration number, which we were totally unaware of, as the letter from the DVLA only arrived late in the day on Dec 7.” The DVLA’s correspondence gave the couple a new registration number, urging them to inform their insurance provider about the change and promptly install the new number plate.
The letter goes on: “Before a new range of registration numbers are issued or are made available under the Personalised Registration scheme, DVLA tries to identify combinations that may cause offence. On occasions where the Agency is made aware that a potentially offensive registration number has been released in error, steps are immediately taken to withdraw it.
“I realise that the decision to withdraw this registration number will be disappointing to you. However, the Agency adopts a clear policy of withdrawing potentially offensive registration numbers, either from normal issue or from its sales scheme.
“Such marks are withdrawn if they are likely to cause offence or embarrassment to the general population in this country on the grounds of political, racial, and religious sensitivities, or simply because they are in poor taste.” The DVLA gave John and Jackie the option to choose a new number plate worth £250, the same amount they shelled out back in 1997.
Frustrated, Jackie added: “We still have the receipt, no mention is made of inflation. We are incensed that we are to lose our treasured car registration and it is seriously affecting our mental health.” On December 17, the couple were presented with an alternative plate, ‘JJ64 GAS’, which they accepted as a stopgap measure while they hold out hope for the return of their original plate.
Jackie also recalled a recent chat with her local MP, who hinted that their number plate could be misconstrued as a derogatory term.
