South Dakota Won't Recall License Plate Calling for Bush Impeachment

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The state's motor vehicle agency has changed course on its planned recall of a set of personalized license plates encouraging the impeachment of President George W. Bush.

"After reviewing case law on this issue, we have determined that the plate will not be recalled," Paul Kinsman, Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Revenue and Regulation, said in a news release Monday.

The plates, which read MPEACHW, were issued to Heather Morijah of Rapid City.

Deb Hillmer, director of the Division of Motor Vehicles, told the Rapid City Journal last week that the law gives the state authority to recall the plates, even if just one person complains.

Hillmer said the plates never would have been issued if DMV officials had caught their meaning at the time Morijah applied.

Morijah received a letter from the DMV in April announcing the recall and giving her 10 days to turn in the plates at the Pennington County Treasurer's Office or the DMV office in Pierre. The letter said DMV would issue a refund on the months remaining on Morijah's license.

But Morijah said she was hesitant to give up the plates because she believed her free-speech rights were being unnecessarily limited.