ND uses high school students to screen license plates

In some cases, the reason behind the recall was obvious. For example, the plate DBAG presumably didn’t refer to a duffle bag.

Less apparent was URAFI, an acronym used to tell someone they are a certain degree of idiot.

“But, you know, if I sent it to the kids, they knew exactly what it was right away,” Sitz said.

The “kids” are Bismarck high school students who sit on a nine-member review team that also includes department workers and community members of various ages.

Prior to 2007, vanity plate applications were reviewed in-house. But the abbreviated, evolving language of the Internet, email and text messaging prompted the department to look outside for help, Sitz said.