FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DOA DMV Personal Plates

January 25, 2021 (Anchorage, AK) Alaska Department of Administration Commissioner Kelly Tshibaka has released the following statement regarding Alaska’s Personalized Plates Program:

Over the weekend, we were made aware several Alaskans were concerned about messages conveyed on Alaska personalized vehicle registration plates. The plates in question had previously been recalled by the DMV, and the DMV issued replacement standard plates to be displayed. We are notifying law enforcement that these plates are unauthorized by the DMV.

The Alaska DMV has strict guidelines and protocols for issuing personalized license plates, which prohibit references to violence, drugs, law enforcement, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and other government entities. The DMV has a recall process in place should a plate be issued that later is determined to be inappropriate or offensive, which was used in this circumstance.

I am ordering a review of DMV guidelines and processes to determine how these plates were issued and to ensure that Alaska’s personalized plate program continues to protect the public’s interest – both in terms of preventing inappropriate messages, and also the state’s obligation to protect Alaskans’ constitutional rights to free speech.

Any Alaskan who wishes to provide input on these processes is encouraged to do so by e-mailing the Department of Administration at doa.commissioner@alaska.gov.

Press Contact: Kelly Hanke, Public Information Officer, (907)500-8322, kelly.hanke@alaska.gov

Commissioner Kelly Tshibaka
Department of Administration
907-269-5795
550 West 7th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501

###