South Dakota vanity plate restrictions were unconstitutional, lawsuit settlement says

By MARGERY A. BECK
Associated Press

South Dakota officials will no longer deny applications for personalized license plates based on a state law that says any plate can be denied if it’s found to be “offensive to good taste and decency.” Officials agreed to the change as part of a settlement approved by a judge on Friday. As part of the settlement, state officials acknowledged that the “good taste and decency” language is unconstitutional. The American Civil Liberties Union sued last month on behalf of Lyndon Hart. Hart had sought a license plate reading “REZWEED,” a reference to his legal marijuana business. South Dakota denied it, saying the plate was “in poor taste.”