The Houston Chornicle has a nifty little profile on Darmeisha Bell, the Texas state employee in charge of making sure drivers' personalized license plates aren't offensive.
One interesting aspect of the job? Keeping up to speed on new slurs and slang:
If a plate seems a little dark in tone, TxDOT employees ask for the story behind the plate request and Bell and other TxDOT staff members review it.
"We check it for different references to foreign languages or pop culture. Something that may not have been offensive at all can be today because of the pop culture reference," Bell said.
Zach Patton -- Executive Editor. Zach has written about a range of topics, including social policy issues and urban planning and design. Originally from Tennessee, he joined GOVERNING as a staff writer in 2004. He received the 2011 Jesse H. Neal Award for Outstanding Journalism
E-mail: zpatton@governing.com 
Written and compiled by staff writers and editors, GOVERNING View is an on-the-ground, and sometimes behind-the-scenes, look at the topics we're covering in print and online. From notes on what's up in statehouses, county courthouses and city halls, to encounters with people, places and things, GOVERNING View is a window into the side of state and local government you don't always see.
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