Jared Hyams school boy style sketch has received mixed messages from authorities.
Jared Hyams school boy style sketch has received mixed messages from authorities.
Getting a "penis signature" registered as legitimate on a passport and driver's license has become a five year battle for a man determined to have the doodle officially recognised.
Jared Hyams from Melbourne first put forward his penis sketch on his registration form for the Australian Electoral Commission as ajoke.
But what started out as a bit of fun turned into a long battle with government agencies to recognise his "signature" as real, according to The Age.
Hyams new VicRoads driver's licence
Speaking to the newspaper, the 33-year-old said: "I thought it would be a laugh; they would approve it and next year I would sign something different.
"But when I did this signature all of a sudden I was receiving letters and phone calls telling me I couldn't have it. I thought, that's interesting, why not?
"I didn't understand if these people were offended or had taken it personally."
Hyams said he has since been inspired to study law and attempted to claim the penis signature as his own, using it when applying for other identification cards.
He has found some success, acquiring a new driving licence using the signature, and the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation also allowed it to pass.
His health card, library and student cards and signature required to open a bank account were also approved with the phallic sketch. . However, it was rejected and deemed "offensive" by roads and registration body VicRoads and the Department of Trade and Foreign Affairs also denied him a passport citing that the image could be deemed as sexual harassment towards staff.
The Department of Justice also cancelled his application for a Working with Children Check due to the signature.
Hyams is unsure what prompted the choice of symbol in the first place but is adamant he will continue to use it until the government departments accept it.
