Nancy Dello Stritto, a resident of Pompano Beach, South Florida, was taken aback recently when she received a new license plate after a routine vehicle registration renewal. At almost 77 years old, Dello Stritto found herself the owner of a plate reading ‘SQZ A55,’ a sequence that can be interpreted in a crude manner.
Dello Stritto expressed her dismay, saying, “I don’t think a senior who is almost 77 will be driving around with a plate that has that to say.” Upon discovering the plate, she was quite upset, wondering how such a configuration passed inspection.
The license plate has garnered attention within her community. While Dello Stritto is uncomfortable with the plate’s implication, her family and friends are amused. She mentioned that the consensus is largely in favor of keeping it, tallying 16-1 among those close to her.
The origins of the plate issuance remain unclear. Florida’s license plates have traditionally been manufactured in a state prison located in North Florida. They are then distributed through county agencies. Dello Stritto’s plate was processed and mailed from the Broward County Property Tax Collector’s office.
CBS News Miami inquired with the office about the situation. An office manager confirmed that Broward County will replace any plate considered offensive at no cost at their Plantation location. Despite this offer, Dello Stritto plans to keep the plate for now. She expressed her intention to alert the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles about its issuance.
Laughing off the situation, Dello Stritto remarked, “I’m resigned to it; maybe it was destined for it to be on my car. I can handle it; maybe I’ll even get some honks.”