A fan of the slogan. Photo by BrianMKA.

In the great state of Virginia — whose flag bears the motto “sic semper tyrannis,” or “thus always to tyrants” (see: death) — drivers of automobiles don’t want to be tread upon and want their license plates to reflect this.

As the Virginian-Pilot reports, “Don’t Tread On Me” was the ninth most popular specialty license plate in the state this year. That means nearly 21,800 cars have the plate, as opposed to the more than 200 other options.

Among specialty tags approved in the past five years, “Don’t Tread on Me” lags behind only the “In God We Trust” national motto plate, visible on roughly 23,500 cars.

Both were legislatively approved in 2011 and went into circulation last year.

In addition to the phrase, the plate features a yellow background and a coiled rattlesnake as depicted on the Gadsden flag, designed during the American revolution.

The Virginian-Pilot’s story, which focuses heavily on Tea Party fandom of the plate, features this amazing tidbit:

Warrenton’s Rick Buchanan uses his “Don’t Tread on Me” plate as advertising: his SEE FFC tags direct people to the conservative-minded “Fauquier Free Citizen” online publication, and the plate is sandwiched between bumper stickers on his truck promoting the website.

The message on his wife’s license plate – DDM BRO – tells Big Brother to back off; Buchanan says its translation is “Don’t drone me, Bro.”

GBA BRO.