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Arizona and California both allow drivers, for a fee, to customize their license plate numbers.  As a result, I can’t go more than 30 seconds without seeing a personalized license plate number on the road.

You’d think personalized license plate numbers would be tailor made for the twitter generation, since you have a maximum of 7 characters to convey a word or phrase.

Yet, often times I find myself puzzled as to what the license is trying to say.  So I like playing a game called License Plate Scrabble when I’m either sitting on the bus or carpooling into work.

It’s basically Scrabble in reverse. You get seven characters already lined up in order but your task is to figure out what the characters spell out.

Ready to play? Try to make a guess before you read my interpretation.

Plate 1: O H 2 B D R S

My interpretation: At first I thought “oh, 2 bedrooms.” Who knows, maybe the driver is a realtor? Then I looked at it and guessed “oh to be Dr. S”.  Because who knows, the driver could be jealous of someone named Dr. S. Finally I settled on “Oh to be doctors.”

Plate 2: U 2 4 E V ER

My interpretation: This one is pretty obvious – U2 Forever. Must be a super-fan. I mean, I like some of their songs but not enough to pay for a customized plate professing my undying devotion to them.

Plate 3: R O U T _ 6 6

My interpretation: Route 66.  I bet R O U T E 6 6 is already taken. What if one day R O U T _ 6 6 drives up next to R O U T E 6 6 in traffic? Awkward!

Plate 4: C R U Z N 6 6

My interpretation: Cruising 66.  Maybe you and R O U T _ 6 6 should get together and commiserate over losing out on R O U T E 6 6.  Maybe you can be friends? Yes?

Plate 5: I W R K 4 M E

My interpretation: I work for me. Well – G O O D 4 U. Because working for “the man” stinks!

Plate 6: W I L D C A T (on a University of Arizona license plate)

My interpretation: Bleah! Well, this one is self explanatory. We get it, you went to U of A. Whoop de doo. Next please.

Plate 7: S U N D V L (on an Arizona State University license plate)

My interpretation: Sundevil! Boo-yeah now we’re talking! Let’s just end the game here on a high note.