Arno Herwerth wasn't trying to be funny. It wasn't his intention to make someone mad. The retired New York Police Department sergeant who resides on Long Island in New York just wanted to express his patriotic pride with a vanity license plate.

You loyal readers probably remember last December when our friends from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles said there isn't much evidence that having a vanity plate will make you a crime victim target. But vehicle services director Garry Hinkley did warn the state would not allow vanity plates that are obscene, profane or promote criminal activity.

Apparently, the same rules and then some also fly in New York. Herwerth said his plate bears only a simple phrase: "GETOSAMA."

Herwerth, who was on duty in Queens on Sept. 11, 2001, said he got the vanity plate because he felt it was a simple idea that should be America's central focus.

"It's my right to be patriotic," Herwerth said. "I'm very upset (the U.S. military forces) haven't gotten Osama yet, because I think he's a murderer. And that's just how I feel, to be honest with you."

After he applied for the plates at the Department of Motor Vehicles, Herwerth said the review department approved the message and sent the plates. When he realized the registration stickers were missing, he called the DMV. A supervisor, who must have been out to lunch the day the plates were approved, answered the phone.

"He couldn't believe I had them," Herwerth said. "He said New York doesn't issue political plates, and that's not true because I've seen plates that talk about impeaching George Bush around here."

Herwerth and his attorneys are fighting for the right to keep the plates, which he still has in his possession.

How do you draw the line between expressing yourself and being obscene? It varies from state to state, though it would appear Maine is a little more free with plate expression.

"The final decision to allow something like (Herwerth's plate) would sit with Secretary (of State Matthew) Dunlap, but in my opinion, we'd allow that here in Maine," Hinkley, the vehicle services director, said. "It doesn't provoke violence."

Hinkley said Herwerth's obvious feelings toward al-Qaida's No. 1 is "clearly political speech and is certainly allowed. If it said 'KILLOSAMA', that'd probably get pulled."

What can Mainers get away with?

"MPEACHW, that one's floating around out there," Hinkley said. "I got a complaint yesterday about FTHESYS. Another one is FW&U2."

FTHESYS? And W, too? Wow, strong words for a Monday.

So why even allow them? Hinkley said many of the plates in question use double entendre -- they can be interpreted in more than one way.

What won't fly whatsoever -- or in this case drive -- are plates that make blatant racial or sexual implications.

The BMV has a database for drivers who want to buy a vanity license plate to run the name before they can select it. Check it out -- as well as how to register for one -- at www.maine.gov/sos/bmv.

Got a traffic scoop, tip or rant? Share it with me. Drop me a line at 623-3811 Ext. 431 or mmalloy@centralmaine.com