Just how hot is it in NV, it's Obama Hot! Nevada man sues DMV over rejection of âGOPALINâ license plate By Jackie Valley (contact) Published Monday, July 18, 2011 | 11:08 a.m. A Nevada man has filed a lawsuit against the stateâs Department of Motor Vehicles alleging his rights were violated when he says the state denied his requests for personalized license plates with conservative political themes. James Linlor, a Douglas County resident, filed the complaint July 15 in U.S. District Court in Nevada. The complaint alleges Linlor requested a personalized license plate of âGOPALINâ in 2009 and 2010, but the DMV denied his applications, stating the request was "vulgar or obscene or expressing superiority of political affiliation." Linlor says he tried again in June 2010 â this time requesting âPALIN,â âPALIN12â or âPALIN16.â The DMVâs Special Plates Committee, which reviews applications, again denied his requests, deeming them inappropriate because they were âpolitical,â according to the complaint. According to the Nevada Administrative Code, the DMV rejects personalized license plates with any combination of letters, numbers or spaces that âexpress contempt, ridicule or superiority of ... political affiliation.â It can also deny plates it deems âinappropriate.â After a hearing before an administrative law judge, the lawsuit claims the judge reversed the DMVâs denial of Linlorâs requests for plates with âPALIN,â âPALIN12â and âPALIN16.â The judge determined the DMV wasn't authorized to deny requests simply because they were âpolitical,â according to the complaint. Despite the judgeâs decision, the complaint alleges the DMV again denied Linlorâs request for a âGOPALINâ plate. Meanwhile, Linlor discovered the DMV had issued other politics-related license plates, including âGOGREEN,â âDMOCRAT,â âAL GORE,â âKERRY,â âEDWARDS,â âDEAN,â âHILLARYâ and âRONPAUL,â while rejecting requests for âREPBLCNâ and âBUSH,â the complaint alleges. When Linlor applied for a âGO OBAMAâ plate, the DMV approved it, he alleges. âThe actions of the DMV in selectively granting some âpoliticalâ 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,â according to the complaint. Bruce Breslow, director of the Nevada DMV, said Monday heâs not sure why Linlor brought a lawsuit this month because the âGOPALINâ plate was issued Dec. 30, 2010. The DMV, however, is reviewing its policy about personalized license plates and likely will have the director or a deputy director make decisions about whether to approve such requests in the future, he said. âI would not have denied it,â Breslow said, referring to the âGOPALINâ plate. The complaint seeks injunctive relief from the DMV as well as the cost of attorneysâ fees.