You're not allowed to say "EXONSUX" in Alaska, at least not on your license plate.

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The state's Department of Motor Vehicles wants Annette Nelson-Wright to surrender her vanity plate, which carries the saying, ruling that it is offensive, the Anchorage (Alaska) Daily News says.

But Nelson-Wright, 37, a sociologist the Career Academy in Anchorage, has had the plates for six years. She said she's appealing the decision and will get an informal hearing from the state department in about 45 days.

The Daily News says the native Alaskan was offended herself when the tanker Exxon Valdez struck a reef in Prince William Sound and spilled more than 11 millions gallons of oil in 1989.

"Tell me why (the vanity plate is) offensive," Nelson-Wright said, "and I'll tell you how Exxon has harmed Alaska."

The spill was "offensive to me," she told the newspaper.