CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles has agreed to loosen restrictions on personalized license plates after a federal court challenge claimed its policies were unconstitutional.

The agreement, outlined in a consent order signed by U.S. District Judge Dan Aaron Polster, resolves a lawsuit brought by two Ohio men, William Saki and Cyrus Mahdavi. Both men had their applications for personalized plates rejected by the BMV.

Saki, of Lakewood, had his application for a plate reading "GAY" rejected. Mahdavi, of Strongsville, was denied a plate that would have read "MUSLIM."

The BMV conceded in a Zoom hearing that it erred in rejecting the men’s applications and that their requested plates will now be approved. The agency also agreed to review its database and remove restriction

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