That's just part of the design. They are ignored when you type it in, etc. and y...

scarejunba on Aug 12, 2019 | parent | context | favorite | on: NULL license plate not such a bright idea

That's just part of the design. They are ignored when you type it in, etc. and you can't have ABC<heart>123 and ABC123 simultaneously existing because they're the same to the DMV.