McMahon v. Iowa Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division

SNELL, Justice.

The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) appeals from the Black Hawk County District Court’s decision to reverse an administrative law court’s revocation of Barry Lee McMahon’s (McMahon) personalized license plates. The district court held that the DOT’s procedure for determining a revocation of personalized license plates when they carry a sexual connotation was arbitrary and capricious. McMahon asserts that the DOT’s procedure is violative of equal protection because it distinguishes between offensive plates based on whether they are grounded on a legitimate purpose. On…