Anti-trump license plate recalled by N.J. DMV. It took them a year to catch it.

[634-5789]

New Jersey routinely rejects vanity license plates for political vulgarity or coded insults, but one controversial message — “FDT 8647” — slipped through and is only now being recalled.

A photo of the Subaru’s license plate that was spotted in Mercer County — showing the full plate number “FDT 8647” — was posted on X. The poster wrote, “surprised the DMV approved it.”

The ’8647′ message is the same message that led to the indictment of former FBI director James Comey.

Comey’s 2025 social media post showing seashells on a beach that spelled out “8647” resulted in an indictment by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on April 28, contending that it was a threat against Fatass McRapist the 47th president.

https://www.nj.com/news/2026/05/anti-trump-license-plate-recalled-by-nj-mvc-it-took-them-a-year-to-catch-it.html

?w=600&h=517

[no_hypocrisy]

1. DMV employees are not wont to extrapolation.

Free pass.

[Baitball Blogger]

2. That person could auction that off as a collectible and make some nice cash.

[LeftInTX]

35. Will they let him keep it?

[pimpbot]

39. could just report it stolen

Happens all the time. Then keep it as a memento.

[AverageOldGuy]

3. My 2025 Subaru Outback --

— has two small decals flanking the rear license plate.

NO ICE

TRUMP with a red slash through the name

[lisa58]

4. How is this not Free Speech?

How is it any different than a bumper sticker?

There is a guy down the street that has been flying a Trump flag since 2016. The town tried to get him to take it down as there is an ordinance that you can only display political signs 30 days before an election. He fought it and won. It’s been there for 10 years. How is this different?

[Callie1979]

5. The State issues the plate. Not bumper stickers or flags.

[lisa58]

11. True, but they obviously didn't notice it when it was requested...

It’s that harmless

[LeftInTX]

26. It may be harmless, but it's political...might as well say Fuck Donald Trump

Government cannot make that type of speech and they made the plate.

Vehicle owner is welcome to purchase a privately made bumper sticker with the same message.

[lisa58]

34. Only if you know, but I concede

[Callie1979]

40. A bit of an "apple/orange" comparison. I probably wouldve never noticed the meaning.

I imagine a lot of people wouldnt notice.
But "Fuck trump" doesnt leave anything to the imagination!

[LeftInTX]

42. Whether this plate was a custom plate or just a randomly generated one is beyond my payscale.

However, government issued plates etc can be recalled pretty much for any reason.
The vehicle owner should receive a free new plate from the state. He should also recieve a refund if he paid extra for a custom plate.

The vehicle owner can still purchase a bumper sticker FDT8647. Hence, it would no longer be apples and oranges.

The bottom line the state of NJ issued a plate FDT8647.
They realized how it could be interpreted and decided that it wasn't an appropriate use of state resources.

[at140]

6. Is exhorting murder free speech?

How about yelling "fire" in a crowded theater ?
How about if I advertise a reward of $10,000 to break some individual's bones?

Sorry, I abhor violence of any kind.

[rzemanfl]

7. I will check in later, n/t

[lisa58]

9. 86 does not in any way refer to violence...

Trumpers may whine that it does and convince others that it does, but it doesn’t. I don’t condone violence either.

[at140]

23. What does 86 mean to you Lisa?

If it means get rid of something,
How can you get rid of Trump without a violent act? He is in until Jan 20, 2029 by law.

[DFW]

24. Only by man-made law

If he sticks to his preferred diet, the law of Mother Nature might assert priority.

[True Dough]

28. 25th amendment

It's an option, if some ReYhugs can ever regain their senses/consciences.

[hlthe2b]

31. Well, that is damned easy. Impeachment w removal/25th Amendment/forced resignation (Nixon)

Carrying it out won't be easy, but naming the alternatives that are NOT violent acts, certainly is.

[BannonsLiver]

38. Is getting rid of something or someone exclusively an "act of violence"?

For example when I remove trash from my home and place it inside a receptacle for collection, is that a violent act in your view? How about when I ask someone to leave the room, is that a violent act as well? If an employer fires an employee is that a violent act? After all, they are getting rid of someone.

[Stuckinthebush]

10. Hmmmm. Violence?

Pray tell - how does that tag incite violence?

[at140]

22. 86 means what?

My understanding is it means finish off something. When applied to a human being, it means killing her off. Killing is violent act.

[canetoad]

25. Totally wrong

86 (term)
Eighty-six or 86 is American English slang originating in the hospitality industry, especially a food or drinks establishment, meaning that an item is no longer available, or that a person or people is not welcome on the premises. Its etymology is unknown, but it seems to have been coined in the 1920s or 1930s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/86_(term)

[Stuckinthebush]

30. And there it is

Thanks Canetoad. That should be the end of discussion.

[hlthe2b]

33. What the hell, at140? It dates back almost a hundred years and means to "nix" something (menu)

The term "86" originated in the 1930s as American slang, likely from soda jerk jargon meaning an item was sold out, possibly as rhyming slang for "nix." It later expanded to mean refusing service or getting rid of someone, especially in bars and restaurants.

STEP AWAY from the RW/MAGA memes!

[Conjuay]

37. from what I read, it's from the soup kitchens during the(last) depression..

the large pots used in the soup kitchens held 85 cups.
The eighty-sixth person in line was simply out of luck.

It might be accurate, or it might not be.
But this is the best explanation I’ve found so far
It fits the idea that it’s from the food industry, and it fits the time line that most people claim.

[bluestarone]

41. Oh,

Bullshit!

[azureblue]

15. note that

after years of Trumpers threatening violence in word and images, suddenly they turn into delicate snowflakes at the first perceived push back. And 86 means nothing beyond, "we ran out of supply". Trumpers are tying themselves in knots trying to make 86 a death threat.

[DiverDave]

27. exhorting murder ??

That's not what it is.
And I suspect you know that.
Faux news bs.

[Kaleva]

29. Yelling fire in a crowded theater is protected speech

[BannonsLiver]

36. What's violent about 8647?

I know Trump brewed up a fondu in his Depends about it but surprised to see someone on this forum AGREEING WITH TRUMP and his opinion that 8647 is a call to assassinate him. What other issues do you support Trump on?

[Polybius]

12. States ban tons of custom license plates

Most are vulgar or explicit words though.

[lisa58]

13. Yes, and they didn't even notice when it was requested

I am so tired of Trump threatening those who just disagree with him and claiming to be the victim.

[Polybius]

14. Well, that could easily slip past a non-political employee

I remember about 30 years ago, someone had Zyklon B on their plate for like a year before anyone noticed. I wouldn't have known what it meant either, but when they recalled it, they said it was a gas used by the Nazis.

[lisa58]

20. Okay...

And that actually meant murder - this does not

[azureblue]

16. and the funny part is

this is a stock issued plate, not vanity, issued a year ago, before the right wing snowflakes made an issue of a number. What next, cancel a plate that is 98, because that's 86 upside down? Or refuse to issue 88-2? They got their fee fees hurt sooooo bad.

[lisa58]

21. No it isn't / it's a vanity plate...

A stock plate would be 3 characters- 3 characters. It still Doesn’t incite anything

[rzemanfl]

8. Is it clear that this is

Last edited Sat May 9, 2026, 09:55 AM - Edit history (1)

a vanity plate and not just part of regular production?

Eleven years ago, nobody would have looked twice at this plate.

On edit-The article linked to in the OP says this is a vanity plate that was issued in April of 2025. Comey's seashells picture wasn't posted until May. So, the idea that 86 is a death threat wasn't invented at the time the plate was issued.

[lisa58]

19. Maybe he/she/they are the sea shell culprits

The complaining is exhausting

[rpannier]

17. Fred Dalton Terwilliger b. 8 June 47

[GreenWave]

18. We should all have the same plate. Will piss off info sellers.

[niyad]

32. And yet, the same people screeching about the "violent threat" of this

had absolutely NO problem with all the "8646" merchandise available during President Biden's term.