The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has apologized after a license plate that appeared to mock the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel was brought to their attention. The controversial plate, spotted on a Tesla Cybertruck in Culver City, bore the inscription “LOLOCT7.” The term “Lol” is commonly used online to indicate laughter, and “OCT7” refers to the tragic date of the Hamas-led assault.
The organization StopAntisemitism, which works to combat anti-Semitism, highlighted the plate in a post on X, questioning how the DMV allowed such a license plate to be approved. The group urged the DMV to recall the plate, describing it as a disrespectful reference to the lives lost in the attack.
In response, the DMV issued a public apology, calling the situation “unacceptable and disturbing.” They assured the public that the plates would be recalled and that they would review and strengthen their internal processes to prevent similar incidents in the future. A DMV representative added that the vehicle's owner would be contacted, and the license plate would be revoked, though the owner has the option to appeal the decision.
Additionally, DMV officials stated they would search their database for other potentially offensive plates referencing the October 7 attacks and take action against them if found.
