BALTIMORE (CBSDC) — Expressions of self through vanity license plates have taken a decidedly PG turn since Maryland’s Motor Vehicle Administration began the practice of banning certain words, phrases and other combinations that could be perceived as offensive from appearing on tags.

More than 4,000 words and letter-number combinations have landed on the Objectionable Plate List according to the Baltimore Sun.

The MVA has the right to reject applications for vanity tags that have a scatological or sexual meaning.

Also banned:

• Curse words
• Epithets
• Obscenities
• Words or phrases that carry a “fraudulent or deceptive purpose”
• Words or phrases that refer to illegal acts
• Words or phrases that convey messages about race
• Words or phrases that convey messages about ethnicity
• Words or phrases that convey messages about religion
• Words or phrases that convey messages about sexual orientation
• Words or phrases that convey messages about disability

The Sun cited “FBI” and “CIA” as examples of words banned for having a fraudulent or deceptive purpose. “HEROIN” and “KILLALL” were cited as no-no’s under the illegal acts ban.

When a person applies for a vanity tag, their request is entered into a computer that cross-checks their tags with the Objectionable Plate List.