EAST MEADOW, N.Y., Feb. 16 (UPI) -- A suburban New York man said the personalized license plate he obtained for his car -- XXX PERT -- causes many people to ask him about buying pornography.

Henry DeRossi, 78, of East Meadow, N.Y., said the plate on his Mercedes-Benz is a reference to his business, Expert Metal Slitters of Long Island City, N.Y., but the triple-X on the plate causes many to confuse him for a porn seller, the New York Daily News reported Monday.


"You'd be surprised how many people stop me when I am at a light and want to buy porn," DeRossi said.

He told the Daily News the number of people confused by the plate has grown to the point where his auto dealer has him park the vehicle in a back lot when he brings it in for service.

The New York Department of Motor Vehicles said there are 450,292 personalized license plates in the state.