A Pompano Beach resident is at the center of a viral sensation after receiving a Florida license plate with a configuration that many interpret as crude. Nancy Dello Stritto, who is approaching her 77th birthday, was surprised when the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles mailed her the plate reading "SQZ A55" as part of her vehicle registration renewal.
Dello Stritto expressed disbelief that such a plate could pass inspection, telling CBS News Miami that she initially reacted with astonishment. She also noted her hesitation to drive with the plate, given its potential interpretation and her residency in a senior community.
Despite her initial reservations, Dello Stritto has received encouragement from her family, friends, and neighbors to keep the plate. An informal tally among her sons and their friends reportedly favored keeping it, with one 89-year-old neighbor deeming it "Good." This reaction has led Dello Stritto to consider driving with the plate, telling 10 Tampa Bay News that she is "resigned to it; maybe it was destined for it to be on my car."
The incident quickly gained traction on social media, with commentators and media personalities weighing in. Some suggested the plate could be valuable due to its unusual configuration. The story also prompted jokes about the potential reactions it might elicit in her community.
Florida's standard license plates are typically replaced every 10 years. The state offers several standard plate options, including county-specific designs and general "Sunshine State" or "In God We Trust" motifs. Alphanumeric configurations are standard unless a motorist specifically requests and pays for a personalized plate.
Broward County officials confirmed that Dello Stritto could have the license plate replaced at no cost at the county's motor vehicle office in Plantation if she finds it offensive.