Latest news with #IndicaBradford
News.com.au
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- News.com.au
‘Inappropriate': QLD mum left reeling as her name is banned from Aussie number plates
A young Queensland mum was blown away after the state knocked back her request for personalised number plates featuring her own name. Indica Bradford had dreamt of having her own custom plates since the day she got her licence. 'Everyone has personalised plates and I could get my full name because it's so unique,' she told A Current Affair. 'I was really excited about that for ages.' After years of checking online to see if her name was still available, she finally placed her order. 'I bought my new car, and I thought, I'll finally get them, so I put them on lay-by.' But the excitement was short-lived. A few weeks later, her deposit was refunded. The Department of Transport and Main Roads ruled her chosen plates inappropriate. 'Personalised Plates Queensland (PPQ) told me it's a strand of marijuana, so that's why they've deemed it inappropriate,' Indica said. Indica says her mother gave her the name after hearing it somewhere years before she was born. 'She loved it for years, and then when she finally had me, she named me the name she loved.' Neither of them had any idea the name was also linked to a subspecies of the cannabis plant. 'I think the majority of Australia would probably be the same. They wouldn't even know what it meant. 'It's just someone's unusual name.' Now, Indica is calling on the department to reverse the decision. 'I'm not trying to offend anyone. It's just my name, my legal name, on my birth certificate.' However, the government isn't budging. The Department of Transport and Main Roads said all personalised plate requests are assessed against strict criteria set by PPQ, and 'plates that do not meet the criteria are not approved for sale.' The policy is regularly updated to 'reflect current community and social norms' and to align with Queenslanders' expectations. The department added: 'This particular plate combination at the time was deemed inappropriate in relation to its interpretation as promotion of illegal drugs or criminal activity.' Indica isn't alone in having her request denied. Across Australia, thousands of number plates are rejected each year for toeing the line on what's considered offensive, inappropriate, or dangerous. In Western Australia, plates referencing drugs, alcohol, road safety concerns, discriminatory or offensive language, and government acronyms like ANZAC or RAAF are banned. Some rejected plates include CRMNL (crime reference), T3QUILA (alcohol), ADHD12 (mental health), ANILATR (deemed unsafe), and XIXIXIXIX (too difficult to read). WA car enthusiast Ian Atkinson received a complaint from a disability workforce member about his plate SPAKATAK in February 2022. Atkinson said the plates, which came with the car he bought two months earlier, cost about $600. 'When I bought it, I had no idea that it would offend anybody,' he told the ABC. 'It just depends on someone's interpretation.' The plate was approved in 2011 but would not pass today's stricter guidelines. He also tried to get HQQNIGAN (a play on Hoonigan), but that was also rejected because officials feared it might incite road rage. In New South Wales, plates have been deemed even more controversial. After a Sydney motorist was spotted in Feb 2024, with plates reading OCT7TH, an apparent reference to the October 7 Hamas terror attacks in Israel, Transport for NSW ordered the plates to be surrendered. The driver claimed the plates were 'missing.' Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said: 'No one will buy his excuse.' Authorities warned failure to return cancelled plates could result in a $2,000 fine, or up to $22,000 and possible jail time if a false statutory declaration is submitted. NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen said: 'The NSW Government has zero tolerance for hate speech. 'We are not going to tolerate hatred and intolerance being spread in the community.' Other recalled plates in NSW included 88SEIG (linked to Nazi codes) and NAAZI4, despite the owner claiming, like Indica, that it was related to their name. However, it seems some unusual plates have slipped through the net. In October 2024, a Perth driver was accused of 'belittling the poor' after their luxury Mercedes, with the plate CENTRLINK, was photographed. The car was believed to have retailed for over $150,000. 'I very much doubt the owner of this Merc is on Centrelink,' wrote the person who uploaded the photo. The owner sparked significant public debate but in the end was not fined or required to surrender the plates. Plate rage isn't unique to Australia, in the UK John and Jackie Cooke, were left fuming after their personalised plate N14GAS, a nod to their football club, Bristol Rovers, was recalled in Jan 2025 after nearly 30 years. The plate stands for 'Number one for the Gas', the club's nickname, and was originally suggested by Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) staff in 1997. But concerns it could be misconstrued as a slur led to the plate being revoked. Jackie said: 'In 27 years, no-one has ever complained about this registration number being offensive.' Between 2022 and 2023, around 1,000 personalised plate applications in Western Australia were knocked back for being too offensive. Meanwhile, in Queensland, PPQ rejected 3,901 combinations in 2023 alone. Some of the banned contenders include GEN3CID, SAUC3D, RAMP4GE, BUYAGRAM and F4K3T4X1 (referring to a well-known porn site). Whether it's your legal name, a tongue-in-cheek joke, or your favourite sports team, if it's going on a plate, expect scrutiny. And in Indica's case, you can be named after a party plant your whole life and still be told it's too controversial for your bumper.
Daily Telegraph
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Telegraph
‘Inappropriate': QLD mum left reeling as her name is banned from Aussie number plates
Don't miss out on the headlines from On the Road. Followed categories will be added to My News. A young Queensland mum was blown away after the state knocked back her request for personalised number plates featuring her own name. Indica Bradford had dreamt of having her own custom plates since the day she got her licence. 'Everyone has personalised plates and I could get my full name because it's so unique,' she told A Current Affair. 'I was really excited about that for ages.' After years of checking online to see if her name was still available, she finally placed her order. 'I bought my new car, and I thought, I'll finally get them, so I put them on lay-by.' But the excitement was short-lived. A few weeks later, her deposit was refunded. The Department of Transport and Main Roads ruled her chosen plates inappropriate. 'Personalised Plates Queensland (PPQ) told me it's a strand of marijuana, so that's why they've deemed it inappropriate,' Indica said. Indica says her mother gave her the name after hearing it somewhere years before she was born. 'She loved it for years, and then when she finally had me, she named me the name she loved.' Neither of them had any idea the name was also linked to a subspecies of the cannabis plant. 'I think the majority of Australia would probably be the same. They wouldn't even know what it meant. 'It's just someone's unusual name.' Now, Indica is calling on the department to reverse the decision. 'I'm not trying to offend anyone. It's just my name, my legal name, on my birth certificate.' However, the government isn't budging. For all the latest science and technology news - download the app direct to your phone. Indica is calling on the department to reverse the decision. Picture: A Current Affair The Department of Transport and Main Roads said all personalised plate requests are assessed against strict criteria set by PPQ, and 'plates that do not meet the criteria are not approved for sale.' The policy is regularly updated to 'reflect current community and social norms' and to align with Queenslanders' expectations. The department added: 'This particular plate combination at the time was deemed inappropriate in relation to its interpretation as promotion of illegal drugs or criminal activity.' Indica isn't alone in having her request denied. Across Australia, thousands of number plates are rejected each year for toeing the line on what's considered offensive, inappropriate, or dangerous. In Western Australia, plates referencing drugs, alcohol, road safety concerns, discriminatory or offensive language, and government acronyms like ANZAC or RAAF are banned. Some rejected plates include CRMNL (crime reference), T3QUILA (alcohol), ADHD12 (mental health), ANILATR (deemed unsafe), and XIXIXIXIX (too difficult to read). WA car enthusiast Ian Atkinson received a complaint from a disability workforce member about his plate SPAKATAK in February 2022. Atkinson said the plates, which came with the car he bought two months earlier, cost about $600. 'When I bought it, I had no idea that it would offend anybody,' he told the ABC. 'It just depends on someone's interpretation.' The plate was approved in 2011 but would not pass today's stricter guidelines. He also tried to get HQQNIGAN (a play on Hoonigan), but that was also rejected because officials feared it might incite road rage. Failure to return cancelled plates can result in a penalty up to $22,000 and possible jail time. Picture: X In New South Wales, plates have been deemed even more controversial. After a Sydney motorist was spotted in Feb 2024, with plates reading OCT7TH, an apparent reference to the October 7 Hamas terror attacks in Israel, Transport for NSW ordered the plates to be surrendered. The driver claimed the plates were 'missing.' Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said: 'No one will buy his excuse.' Authorities warned failure to return cancelled plates could result in a $2,000 fine, or up to $22,000 and possible jail time if a false statutory declaration is submitted. NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen said: 'The NSW Government has zero tolerance for hate speech. 'We are not going to tolerate hatred and intolerance being spread in the community.' Other recalled plates in NSW included 88SEIG (linked to Nazi codes) and NAAZI4, despite the owner claiming, like Indica, that it was related to their name. However, it seems some unusual plates have slipped through the net. In October 2024, a Perth driver was accused of 'belittling the poor' after their luxury Mercedes, with the plate CENTRLINK, was photographed. The car was believed to have retailed for over $150,000. 'I very much doubt the owner of this Merc is on Centrelink,' wrote the person who uploaded the photo. The owner sparked significant public debate but in the end was not fined or required to surrender the plates. Plate rage isn't unique to Australia, in the UK John and Jackie Cooke, were left fuming after their personalised plate N14GAS, a nod to their football club, Bristol Rovers, was recalled in Jan 2025 after nearly 30 years. Some Aussie drivers got away scot-free with their risky license plates. Picture: Reddit The plate stands for 'Number one for the Gas', the club's nickname, and was originally suggested by Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) staff in 1997. But concerns it could be misconstrued as a slur led to the plate being revoked. Jackie said: 'In 27 years, no-one has ever complained about this registration number being offensive.' Between 2022 and 2023, around 1,000 personalised plate applications in Western Australia were knocked back for being too offensive. Meanwhile, in Queensland, PPQ rejected 3,901 combinations in 2023 alone. Some of the banned contenders include GEN3CID, SAUC3D, RAMP4GE, BUYAGRAM and F4K3T4X1 (referring to a well-known porn site). Whether it's your legal name, a tongue-in-cheek joke, or your favourite sports team, if it's going on a plate, expect scrutiny. And in Indica's case, you can be named after a party plant your whole life and still be told it's too controversial for your bumper.
Herald Sun
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Herald Sun
‘Inappropriate': QLD mum left reeling as her name is banned from Aussie number plates
A young Queensland mum was blown away after the state knocked back her request for personalised number plates featuring her own name. Indica Bradford had dreamt of having her own custom plates since the day she got her licence. 'Everyone has personalised plates and I could get my full name because it's so unique,' she told A Current Affair. 'I was really excited about that for ages.' After years of checking online to see if her name was still available, she finally placed her order. 'I bought my new car, and I thought, I'll finally get them, so I put them on lay-by.' But the excitement was short-lived. A few weeks later, her deposit was refunded. The Department of Transport and Main Roads ruled her chosen plates inappropriate. 'Personalised Plates Queensland (PPQ) told me it's a strand of marijuana, so that's why they've deemed it inappropriate,' Indica said. Indica says her mother gave her the name after hearing it somewhere years before she was born. 'She loved it for years, and then when she finally had me, she named me the name she loved.' Neither of them had any idea the name was also linked to a subspecies of the cannabis plant. 'I think the majority of Australia would probably be the same. They wouldn't even know what it meant. 'It's just someone's unusual name.' Now, Indica is calling on the department to reverse the decision. 'I'm not trying to offend anyone. It's just my name, my legal name, on my birth certificate.' However, the government isn't budging. For all the latest science and technology news - download the app direct to your phone. Indica is calling on the department to reverse the decision. Picture: A Current Affair The Department of Transport and Main Roads said all personalised plate requests are assessed against strict criteria set by PPQ, and 'plates that do not meet the criteria are not approved for sale.' The policy is regularly updated to 'reflect current community and social norms' and to align with Queenslanders' expectations. The department added: 'This particular plate combination at the time was deemed inappropriate in relation to its interpretation as promotion of illegal drugs or criminal activity.' Indica isn't alone in having her request denied. Across Australia, thousands of number plates are rejected each year for toeing the line on what's considered offensive, inappropriate, or dangerous. In Western Australia, plates referencing drugs, alcohol, road safety concerns, discriminatory or offensive language, and government acronyms like ANZAC or RAAF are banned. Some rejected plates include CRMNL (crime reference), T3QUILA (alcohol), ADHD12 (mental health), ANILATR (deemed unsafe), and XIXIXIXIX (too difficult to read). WA car enthusiast Ian Atkinson received a complaint from a disability workforce member about his plate SPAKATAK in February 2022. Atkinson said the plates, which came with the car he bought two months earlier, cost about $600. 'When I bought it, I had no idea that it would offend anybody,' he told the ABC. 'It just depends on someone's interpretation.' The plate was approved in 2011 but would not pass today's stricter guidelines. He also tried to get HQQNIGAN (a play on Hoonigan), but that was also rejected because officials feared it might incite road rage. Failure to return cancelled plates can result in a penalty up to $22,000 and possible jail time. Picture: X In New South Wales, plates have been deemed even more controversial. After a Sydney motorist was spotted in Feb 2024, with plates reading OCT7TH, an apparent reference to the October 7 Hamas terror attacks in Israel, Transport for NSW ordered the plates to be surrendered. The driver claimed the plates were 'missing.' Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said: 'No one will buy his excuse.' Authorities warned failure to return cancelled plates could result in a $2,000 fine, or up to $22,000 and possible jail time if a false statutory declaration is submitted. NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen said: 'The NSW Government has zero tolerance for hate speech. 'We are not going to tolerate hatred and intolerance being spread in the community.' Other recalled plates in NSW included 88SEIG (linked to Nazi codes) and NAAZI4, despite the owner claiming, like Indica, that it was related to their name. However, it seems some unusual plates have slipped through the net. In October 2024, a Perth driver was accused of 'belittling the poor' after their luxury Mercedes, with the plate CENTRLINK, was photographed. The car was believed to have retailed for over $150,000. 'I very much doubt the owner of this Merc is on Centrelink,' wrote the person who uploaded the photo. The owner sparked significant public debate but in the end was not fined or required to surrender the plates. Plate rage isn't unique to Australia, in the UK John and Jackie Cooke, were left fuming after their personalised plate N14GAS, a nod to their football club, Bristol Rovers, was recalled in Jan 2025 after nearly 30 years. Some Aussie drivers got away scot-free with their risky license plates. Picture: Reddit The plate stands for 'Number one for the Gas', the club's nickname, and was originally suggested by Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) staff in 1997. But concerns it could be misconstrued as a slur led to the plate being revoked. Jackie said: 'In 27 years, no-one has ever complained about this registration number being offensive.' Between 2022 and 2023, around 1,000 personalised plate applications in Western Australia were knocked back for being too offensive. Meanwhile, in Queensland, PPQ rejected 3,901 combinations in 2023 alone. Some of the banned contenders include GEN3CID, SAUC3D, RAMP4GE, BUYAGRAM and F4K3T4X1 (referring to a well-known porn site). Whether it's your legal name, a tongue-in-cheek joke, or your favourite sports team, if it's going on a plate, expect scrutiny. And in Indica's case, you can be named after a party plant your whole life and still be told it's too controversial for your bumper. Originally published as 'Inappropriate': QLD mum left reeling as her name is banned from Aussie number plates
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Aussie mum learns hidden meaning of her name after personal number plates rejected
An Aussie mum claims she has learned about an unknown meaning of her name after being rejected from using it as a personal number plate for her car. It's not unusual for drivers to have their custom number plates request denied by the government if their choice of words is deemed inappropriate or offensive. Such was the case last year when a NSW number plate appearing to honour the date of the recent Hamas attack on Israel made national headlines after it snuck through the approval process, prompting the state's Roads Minister to order it be seized. But for one young Aussie mum, her simple request was reportedly denied for a far more surprising reason – her first name was deemed inappropriate. Queensland mother Indica Bradford says she always wanted her "unusual" name on her number plates. After recently buying her own car, she was excited to see the option was still available on the Personalised Plates Queensland (PPQ) website when she went to apply recently. Despite initially being approved, Indica's deposit was soon refunded. She told A Current Affair that she received a phone call telling her the plates were deemed offensive by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) and would not be accepted. Indica argues that the majority of Australians would not be upset by the plates displaying her name, and heavily criticised the decision. However the name Indica does have a somewhat lesser known meaning. It's a strain of cannabis, a fact that likely triggered the department's strict ban on drug-related references. "I didn't even know what it was until I was informed by PPQ on the phone," she told the Channel 9 program. "I think the majority of Australia would be the same. It's just someone's unusual name. "I'm not trying to offend anyone. It's just my name." Transport department responds Indicia is now calling on TMR to reverse its decision. "Everyone has personalised plates ... I was really excited about that for ages," she said. "It's my legal name on my birth certificate." In a statement to Yahoo News, a spokesperson for TMR said Indica could challenge the decision if she chooses. "While most plate combinations are approved, a small percentage are declined. In most cases, customers are happy to work with PPQ to find an alternative that meets their intent while also aligning with policy," they said. "This particular plate combination at the time was deemed inappropriate in relation to its interpretation as promotion of illegal drugs or criminal activity. The customer can contact the Department of Transport and Main Roads to seek a formal review of the request to purchase this combination." Detail in uniquely Aussie number plate leaves motorists in stitches Dodgy detail in Aussie's number plate could attract $900 fine Centrelink number plate on $150K Mercedes spotted debate It's certainly not the first time a driver has had their seemingly innocent custom number plates rejected. Back in 2023, a NSW driver said he "died a little inside" after being told he'd no longer be able to drive around sporting his plates, that read: "W8N4U" — an abbreviation of "waiting for you". "There's way worse plates out there, but somehow my plates got flagged for being inappropriate," he said at the time. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
