Whitehorse Daily Star

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BUREAUCRATIC CHANGE OF HEART? – If the term SNAFU is on the Yukon government's list of banned licence plates, wonders Douglas Potter, seen Friday, why was he issued the attention-snaring plate in the first place?

Government recalls unique licence plate

The owner of the territory's SNAFU licence plate said he can't believe he's being ordered to give it back.

By Chuck Tobin on March 8, 2010

The owner of the territory's SNAFU licence plate said he can't believe he's being ordered to give it back.

"Unfortunately, SNAFU appears on our list of banned vanity plates based on ‘offensive language' connotations,” reads the March 5 letter to Douglas Potter from the motor vehicles branch directing him to return his two plates by April 15.

The letter from vehicle registrar Robb Andison says Potter can either exchange the plates at no charge or receive a full refund.

But it also notes he can appeal the decision – and Potter plans to.

"Yeah, I like the plate,” he said in an interview Friday afternoon shortly after receiving Andison's letter.

The Riverdale resident said he applied for the plate last spring because he has fond memories of Snafu Lake on the Atlin Road.

"It's a great lake,” Potter said. "I have not caught too many fish there, but it is a great lake for the kids.

"That is why I got the plate; I have great memories of the lake.”

SNAFU is the American military acronym for the phrase Situation Normal; All Fu---- Up. Some say Situation Normal; All Fouled Up.

Potter wonders if the SNAFU plate is on the black list, how then was it issued to him in the first place?

And, he asked, how can one ban the use of such a common name that appears in the territorial hunting guide and the fishing guide?

The Yukon government, said Potter, has named a campground after the acronym, a lake and a creek.

"The Snafu campground sign is a big freakin' sign and they say a little licence plate is offensive,” Potter said. "Some of the plates, I understand, are offensive, but this word has been around longer than I have.”

Potter said he received his letter Friday after a friend of his tried the week before to secure a licence plate TARFU – the acronym for Things Are Really Fu---- Up, or fouled up.

His friend, a regular coffee mate, thought it would be humourous to have the SNAFU and TARFU plates sitting side-by-side in the parking lot at the local coffee shop, so she applied for TARFU.

When she was turned down, she mentioned her bewilderment, particularly because her friend had been issued the SNAFU plate. A week later, Potter received his letter.

Potter said as far as he knows, the two popular lakes were named after the American military acronyms as a way of commemorating the involvement of the American army in the construction of the Alaska Highway.

The names, he suggested, were hardly considered offensive back when they were used to recognize American involvement in local highway construction.

Potter said even of the Yukon government cancels the registration of the plates, he's going to hang onto them as keepsakes.

Yukon government officials were unavailable for comment on the situation this morning or early this afternoon.

Comments (10)

Up 0 Down 0

bob vibert on Mar 15, 2010 at 2:46 am

It just seems you have to go to the media these days or Nothing will ever change? Used to be just complain to the Party involved, but not any more-you just get buried in bureauracy or yo-yo back and forth to someone who cant help you anyway?

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Max on Mar 12, 2010 at 10:05 am

Anyone who has been a victim of the arbitrary decision-making powers of the Motor Vehicles Branch will compeltely understand why Potter did not wait for a decision from the "appeal" process before going to the media.

I do not support the government's decision on this issue.

Up 0 Down 0

Arn Anderson on Mar 11, 2010 at 11:58 am

The Whitehorse/Yukon mentality: Care for and have complete outrage for license plates and condemned dogs issues but real issues that affect everyone, ZERO CARING.

Up 0 Down 1

BC on Mar 10, 2010 at 3:51 am

It's pretty hypocritical to recall this fellow's SNAFU licence plate and deny his friend a matching "TARFU" plate. The government has two territorial camp grounds, listed on the Department of Environment's website, which bear the same names. Gotta love those double standards.

Up 0 Down 0

Yukoner73 on Mar 10, 2010 at 2:17 am

What I don't understand is...why did Mr. Potter run screaming and crying to the Press BEFORE the appeal??

Most normal folks would have appealed and if there was no satisfaction THEN gone to the media.

I do however, agree that he should be able to keep SNAFU...

Up 1 Down 0

Rudel Zinsser on Mar 8, 2010 at 11:34 pm

I think your number plates are awesome!

Do not let the government take them away from you.

Up 0 Down 0

mosi on Mar 8, 2010 at 10:47 pm

Here is a name they should really ban for good: 'TAXI' (based on all the bad things going on in Whitehorse there days)?

Up 1 Down 0

yukonjj on Mar 8, 2010 at 12:26 pm

Typical Yukon government dep't. Okay for them to use the names, but no good for joe public

Up 0 Down 0

JG on Mar 8, 2010 at 11:46 am

Remember SRM666? (though it was given to us, not asked for)

Up 0 Down 0

George Lessard on Mar 8, 2010 at 9:43 am

One would think that the real SNAFU is in the motor vehicles branch rather than on Douglas Potter's car....

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