Florida Woman Shocked By Crude License Plate Message
Florida Woman Stunned After Receiving License Plate That Spells Out a Crude Message
A South Florida woman got a lot more than she bargained for when she renewed her vehicle registration.
Nancy Dello Stritto of Pompano Beach says she opened her mail expecting a standard replacement license plate. Instead, the nearly 77-year-old found a plate reading “SQZ A55,” a combination that many people interpret as spelling out a crude phrase.
“I don’t think a senior who is almost 77 will be driving around with a plate that has that to say,” Dello Stritto told CBS News Miami. “When I saw that, I went ballistic. I said, ‘How could that pass inspection?'”
An Unexpected Conversation Starter
What started as an embarrassing surprise has quickly become the talk of her retirement community.
While Dello Stritto was ready to swap it out immediately, many of her neighbors—and even her own family—think she should embrace the accidental humor. According to her, the current vote stands at 16-1 in favor of keeping the plate.
Her sons and their friends are among those encouraging her to leave it on the car.
How Did It Happen?
It’s unclear how the letter-and-number combination made it through the approval process.
Florida license plates have been manufactured at a state prison in North Florida for decades before being distributed through county tax collector offices. Dello Stritto’s plate was mailed from the Broward County Property Tax Collector’s Office as part of her routine registration renewal.
After CBS News Miami contacted the office, a manager confirmed that Broward County will replace any license plate deemed offensive at no cost.
She’s Keeping It… For Now
Despite her initial reaction, Dello Stritto says she’s decided to hang onto the plate for the time being while she contacts the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
She now sees the funny side of the situation.
“I’m resigned to it; maybe it was destined for it to be on my car,” she said with a laugh. “I can handle it; maybe I’ll even get some honks.”
One thing is certain: what was supposed to be an ordinary registration renewal has turned Nancy into one of Florida’s most unexpected local celebrities
