Man sues over 'GOPALIN' license plate

CARSON CITY, Nev., July 19 (UPI) -- A lawsuit filed against the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles is seeking compensation for the rejection of a man's requested "GOPALIN" license plate.

James Linlor of Douglas County said the DMV denied his application for the "GOPALIN" plate as well as subsequent requests for plates reading "PALIN," "PALIN12" and "PALIN16" due to rules banning plates "expressing superiority of political affiliation," the Las Vegas Sun reported Tuesday.

Linlor said an administrative law judge told the DMV it could not deny his requests for the latter three plates simply on the grounds of being "political," but the department continued to deny his requests for a "GOPALIN" plate.

The lawsuit states Linlor filed to obtain a "GO OBAMA" plate and was approved.

"The actions of the DMV in selectively granting some 'political' license plate requests while denying others are unconstitutional on grounds of content and viewpoint discrimination, and should be enjoined as a violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution," the lawsuit states.

Bruce Breslow, director of the Nevada DMV, said Monday Linlor was issued a "GOPALIN" plate Dec. 30, 2010. He said the department is reviewing its policies.

The lawsuit is seeking attorney's fees and injunctive relief from the DMV.