Story Created:
May 16, 2008 at 3:44 PM EST
Story Updated:
May 16, 2008 at 10:25 PM EST
FORT MYERS, Fla. - On a hot Florida summer day, be thankful you're not Jeff Wood. "Business stinks, but it's picking up," he says.
Jeff's business isn't really in the toilet...or maybe it is? Jeff runs Scoopster Enterprises, a professional pet waste cleanup service. Jeff advertises all over his truck, even on his license plate. Nearly everywhere he drives, he gets a reaction to his "potty" humor.
"They give me grins. Sometimes they roll down the window and ask me weird questions like 'I've got two toddlers in the back do you take care of them too?'" says Jeff.
He's not the only one watching business grow from his rear view mirror.
"A lot of people will sit in traffic and take pictures of the front of the truck with their camera phones," says tow truck driver Bret Roberts
He's thinks it has helped bring in business.
"It's one of those things. The easier to remember for people, it's one of those quick slogans. They always say they remember the 466 hook and the legal hooker part and they laugh about it," says Roberts.
Roberts plate didn't make the Florida review list, though he has received one complaint. "My girlfriend won't drive the truck anymore. She's embarrassed," laughs Roberts.
While businesses use them to advertise, the State of Florida is bringing in money. In 2007, the state made $110,000 in Lee County, $75,000 in Collier County, and $33,000 in Charlotte County off personalized plates. Overall, Florida made $2.3 Million dollars.
But not everyone is trying to use the plate to make a buck. Ed Kelly says his plate was inspired by a higher power ten years ago.
"I'm an evangelist, I'm a preacher," says Kelly.
He says his plate was an easy way to spread his message about Christianity. "This is one way to go outside the church and an opportunity to witness to them," says Kelly.
Nick Tsamis sent us a picture of his plate *hail razor* he uses it to advertise his business fixing hail damage on cars.
As for Jeff, he says if business continues to...well, pile up, we could see more trucks on the way. "It was just the first truck maybe in the future poop 2 poop 3 would be natural increments."
Document: You can click here to download the entire list of plates reviewed by the committee. Know that by clicking here, many of them are obscene and objectionable, that's why they're on this list. Just so you know, two committees review the plates. The letters next to the plates mean what they decided. A= Accepted, D=Complaint Denied, R=Reject/Recall, TIE= the committee tied on vote, U= the previous decision was upheld, and O=Overturned.
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