• Sweden edition
Society

Man's ‘devil’ number plate banned in Sweden

Published: 7 Jun 12 16:49 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/41304/20120607/

Authorities have told a motorcyclist in southern Sweden to change his number plate after the current “666” registration was deemed to be too offensive.

The man, from Falköping in southern Sweden, has had the number plate for five years; however it wasn’t until Friday that the Swedish Transport Agency (Transportstyrelsen) decided it should be disallowed.

When the time came for a renewal of the plates, the agency told the man that his triple six would be de-registered come Monday – even though they had given the plates the green light back in 2007.

According to the agency’s rules, “a personal plate may not be designed if it causes offence or harm to anyone else.”

“The number combination of 666 may be offensive to some,” wrote the agency in a letter to the man.

“The Swedish Transport Agency therefore has decided that you are no longer entitled to these personal number plates.”

The number 666 represents the antichrist or the devil in popular culture and is sometimes referred to as “the number of the beast”.

Some people take the number so seriously that they actively avoid it, a fear which is known as Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia.

It is not known whether staff members suffer such a fear, or if the concern was for the residents of the Falköping community.

Oliver Gee
Follow Oliver on Twitter here

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

17:34 June 7, 2012 by roketamine
he could always try 667 the neighbour of the best
17:41 June 7, 2012 by KingArthur
Wat about : GOD-666 / JEW-666

They exist....

Wat a bul.....
17:57 June 7, 2012 by isenhand
change it to 616, that's the Latin version of the Greek 666.
18:07 June 7, 2012 by Vstrommer71
Well,I have named my wifi network as ^666^.I guess I also have to be banned from the authorities :-P
18:37 June 7, 2012 by ?????
NO-NO-NO!

What's wrong with Sweden? Is this country being transformed into a paranoid and super-conservative state? The US had this attidute in the 80s (PRMC, etc); are we going backwards?

P.S. Anyway, could it be offensive because in Swedish it translates to sex-sex-sex? :p
19:35 June 7, 2012 by senlac
I have seen a car with the licence plate HOB 666. Apart from the "666" bit HOB is the old name (in English) for the devil - will the whole plate have to be changed?
20:38 June 7, 2012 by engagebrain
Banning 666 suggests that Transportstyrelsen believe that people in Sweden believe in the devil. Most people in Sweden show no religious faith and even many Christians doubt that the devil actually exists or rides a motorbike. Which century is this ?
21:06 June 7, 2012 by hackie
Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia?? Lol. WTH :P
22:13 June 7, 2012 by johan rebel
Swedish bureaucrats are getting crazier by the day. Instead of paying them to waste their time on silly issues like this, the taxpayers should pay them to have their heads examined.
22:15 June 7, 2012 by Abe L
For every one person taking offense I'm sure it was a good laugh for 10 others. This is not the kind of government involvement I want to see. Do not extort your people for massive amounts of tax money, provide only shitty service in return and then still micromanage bs issues such as this.
22:39 June 7, 2012 by Zombie
I thought this was Sweden, not the USA.
22:48 June 7, 2012 by Kina_observer
666 in other country, for example in China, is a lucky number, people would pay several hundred thousand kronor for that plate .
23:21 June 7, 2012 by space2
If churches are offensive to me, will they ban them? ;-)
01:19 June 8, 2012 by foxpur
@hackie:

Yep

http://phobias.about.com/od/phobiaslist/a/fear666.htm
07:16 June 8, 2012 by Gordy
I've seen a number of vehicles with the reg KKK *** are they going to withdraw all them? Far more offensive to many than 666.
07:47 June 8, 2012 by muscle
lol... thanks to this news, i came to realize what 666 means.
09:23 June 8, 2012 by zooeden
No and absolute No, don´t change the number and bring the case to the higher courts, it´s not offesnive, where are we???? In Khabul???? Is this Yemen??? Uganda????

Of course this is to the interpretation of whoever comes across the number, it was passed on 2007, but surely it came across an old swedish democrat feminist who works at trafikwhatever and says noooooo!!!!

Dont change the numbers because 123 might be offensive to people from Madagascar or whatever!
09:31 June 8, 2012 by wolverine2k
I find all numbers from 0 to 9 offensive! And I find all the religious people offensive. And I also find all the ladies wearing head scarfs offensive. And....

Cutting the list short, can somebody please take care of all these things that are offensive to me and ban them?
09:43 June 8, 2012 by smilingjack
its because you are a puppet of the USA. the most extreme christian nation on the planet. have a look around your streets folks. hillary turned up - gave you your instructions and left. good little swedes doing exactly what america tells you to do.

my neighbour here in the city on your national holiday on wednesday was wearing an american flag bikini with an american flag towel wrapped around here. she was a swede too - not a yank. to give you an idea of how gullible swedes are look at their foot wear. 99% are wearing converse shoes - like sheep. the american collection.
10:12 June 8, 2012 by NyDag
666 would not offend me at all. Seeing mosques sprouting up in my home town offends me, but will they close those down?
14:27 June 8, 2012 by reader
I saw a Mercedes the other day day with the registration JEW ***, it was being driven by an Arab, I guess he didn't see the irony...... :o)
16:59 June 8, 2012 by tadchem
So no one was *actually* offended; it is just that the bureaucrats at Transportstyrelsen *believed* that someone *might* be offended, someday.
10:48 June 10, 2012 by Just_Kidding
My license plate number is also offensive to the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
08:00 June 13, 2012 by Mxzf
Just coming back from China, where 666 is a lucky number, and if you get that house number you display it in very prominent and large, ornate figures...

If anyone is offended by 666 they want to be offended.
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
Unrest in Stockholm
Fires spread in third day of Stockholm riots

Fires spread in third day of Stockholm riots

Police arrested eight people on Tuesday night as more cars were torched in several areas around Stockholm, with rioters terrorizing the streets for the third night in a row. READ () »

The Local List
Stockholm's ten best-kept secrets - revealed

Stockholm's ten best-kept secrets - revealed

With summer around the corner and tourists already heading to the Swedish capital, part-time Stockholmer Erik Bloom shares the secrets of how to find the ten best places to visit in Stockholm that the average visitor may never find. READ () »

Sweden has 'lower tax burden' than Senegal

Sweden has 'lower tax burden' than Senegal

While Sweden has a reputation for having one of the most painful tax bills in the world, a new report ranks Sweden 20th when comparing the tax-burden on salaries when social security payments are taken into account. READ () »

Unrest in Stockholm
Seven arrested over Stockholm's Husby riots

Seven arrested over Stockholm's Husby riots

Seven people were arrested on Tuesday following the Husby riots in northern Stockholm, with Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt warning that the unrest may continue. READ () »

Stockholm Internet Forum
'The future of freedom on the internet is at stake'

'The future of freedom on the internet is at stake'

Internet policy experts gather in Stockholm this week to grapple with online data protection and surveillance issues that everyone who surfs the web should care about, reports technologist Stefan Geens. READ () »

'Swedishness must be split from being white'

'Swedishness must be split from being white'

Sweden needs a new story better equipped to deal with and include today's demographic diversity and create a new Swedishness that is separate from whiteness, write representatives from the Multicultural Centre in Botkyrka near Stockholm. READ () »

Body parts found in missing woman search

Body parts found in missing woman search

Human remains were found in a military building in northern Sweden on Monday night during the search for a 20-year-old woman who has been missing for two weeks. READ () »

My Swedish Career
The 'absolute truth' about tacos in Stockholm

The 'absolute truth' about tacos in Stockholm

Unable to find good Mexican food after moving to Stockholm to study in 2008, Monterrey native David Licona now finds himself running La Neta, one of the most popular Mexican eateries in the Swedish capital. The Local finds out more. READ () »

More Society

 

RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER AND ALERTS
 

 

Highlights
Scanpix
SPORT »
Sweden win ice hockey world champs at home
Scanpix
SPORT »
Swedes sweep top French football awards
fastighetsbyrån.se
GALLERY »
Property of the Week: Check out this funky three-room apartment on the Stockholm island of Södermalm
Scanpix
GALLERY »
Sweden win Ice Hockey World Championships. See the celebrations in Stockholm
Scanpix
GALLERY »
Youths burn 100 cars in north Stockholm riots
Finest.se scanpix.se
GALLERY »
People-watching: Nightlife, Ice Hockey Gold celebrations, the royal family... You name it, this week's gallery has it
WikiCommons
BUSINESS & MONEY »
Solna voted best place to live in Sweden
Scanpix
TRAVEL »
Quiz - Think You Know Sweden? This week we head to one of Sweden's ten biggest towns. But which one?
Scanpix
LIFESTYLE »
Eurovision host: 'Not everyone has to like me'
Scanpix
LIFESTYLE »
Denmark wins Eurovision 2013 in Malmö
Paul Hansen/World Press Photo
SOCIETY »
Award-winning Swedish photographer cleared of manipulation
DoToday
LIFESTYLE »
What's On:The Local's guide to upcoming attractions and events in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö
Scanpix
NATIONAL »
A Congolese-Swedish pastor explains the roots to recent cases of parents exorcising demons from their children in Sweden
File photo: AP
NATIONAL »
H&M backs Bangladesh building safety accord
Scanpix
GALLERY »
Eurovision: second semi-final entries
Finest.se
GALLERY »
People-watching: Scenes from the Arctic Council meeting, Eurovision demonstrations, and Stockholm nightlife
Screenshot: American Apparel
SOCIETY »
Swedes slam American Apparel over 'sexist' ads
Hasse Holmberg/Scanpix (File)
BUSINESS & MONEY »
Housing crunch forces more young Swedes to live with mum and dad
Janerik Henriksson/Scanpix
LIFESTYLE »
Eurovision - Centre State: 'It won't be easy to win again': Robin Stjernberg
Asif Akbar/sxc.hu (File)
OPINION »
'Not all discrimination in Sweden is racism'
Lana Wimmer
GALLERY »
Hidden Stockholm Gems: Ulriksdal's Palace
Sex in Sweden: condoms optional - study
SOCIETY »
Sex in Sweden: condoms optional - study
AP (File)
POLITICS »
Russia 'lacks capacity' to attack Sweden: Reinfeldt
fastighetsbyrån.se
GALLERY »
Property of the Week: This week, we're looking inside a home from the 1700s just west of Stockholm. Complete with two cannons.
Scanpix (File)
OPINION »
JobTalk: Top ten tips for earning a higher salary in Sweden
Juanma Perez Rabasco
SOCIETY »
Swedish kids start daycare earlier: report
Facebook
SOCIETY »
'Sex scandal' minister bathes in viral toilet puppy love
Scanpix
NATIONAL »
Illegal apartment rentals thrive in Stockholm flat crunch
Ben Grey/Flickr
SCIENCE & TECH »
Sweden 'second best' place to become a mum
Eddie Gee
LIFESTYLE »
Check out the back catalogue of all The Local's Swedes of the Week
Photo: The Local
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Stockholm International School - what’s in IT for students?
Dixie Thomas Hughes
SPONSORED ARTICLE
US expat David V. Hughes on determination and discovery by design

 

Latest news from The Local in Germany

More news from Germany at thelocal.de

Latest news from The Local in France

More news from France at thelocal.fr

Latest news from The Local in Norway

More news from Norway at thelocal.no

Latest news from The Local in Switzerland

More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »


Blog Update: Stripes News

21 May 21:34

WEEK 21 »

"A week full to the brim with LFC football…. Div 5 LFC match against Nåjdens FK has been moved. This is due to the Svenska Cupen final: 26 May, 17.00 kick off, Nationalarenan Friends Arena, Solna. Next match is on Tuesday (see below). ………………………………………………………… Friday: Div5 Ladies: Rotebro IS FF – Långholmen FC (Skinnaråsens IP) KO: 16.15 ………………………………………………………… Saturday: Vets: Långholmen FC – IFK..." READ »

Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Trade binary options
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Therapy in English
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE
Holiday Luxury Villa in Portugal
Casa Birgitta in Algarve, Portugal. Reduced price in best location. Private estate on white sand beach. All amenities included. Book here today! edward_george1@hotmail.com
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS