Sweden bars ADHD license plate

SODERTALJE , Sweden, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Swedish authorities have barred a woman's attempt to obtain a license plate bearing the letters ADHD, describing the combination as potentially offensive.

The 29-year-old Sodertalje woman was blocked from obtaining a plate reading ADHD after Swedish Transport Agency officials ruled the letters ADHD, an abbreviation for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, are inappropriate for a license plate and potentially offensive, The Local reported Tuesday.

Swedish Transport Agency representative Mikael Andersson said officials use three criteria when considering potential license plates: "Firstly, it can't be similar to regular registration numbers, secondly if it is a registered trademark then permission needs to be granted and proved, and thirdly it must not be offensive," he said.

Andersson said the provision governing offensiveness is the most difficult to enforce and is decided on an individual basis.

"Everything changes in society and this is the same for words and phrases that could be considered offensive. We keep ourselves updated, and pool our resources and knowledge in order to keep ahead," he said.