Because of the ubiquitousness of license plates , special plates - or even regular ones - can raise controversy . The state of Colorado , in recognition of the Columbine High School massacre , released a license plate with the picture of the eponymous state flower , the '' Columbine '' , with the words " Choose Life " in a crayon-line scrawl . Some people complained that they felt the " Choose Life " saying was intended to be an anti-abortion message . Sometimes even ordinary plates can spark controversy . For instance , George Maynard did not like the state motto on his New Hampshire license plate , " Live free or die " and chose to cover it with tape . He was prosecuted and convicted for defacing a license plate . The United States Supreme Court ruled in '' Wooley v. Maynard '' , 430 U.S. 705 ( 1977 ) , that since one is compelled to have a license plate on one 's vehicle , they are permitted not to have to show a message from the state to which they have a moral objection , and overturned his conviction
Columbine High School massacre
Columbine High School massacre
Vehicle registration plates of the United States