Wendy Auger, a mother of four from Rochester, New Hampshire, was shocked when the state DMV demanded she surrender her vanity license plates she had proudly sported for 15 years. The plates, reading “PB4WEGO,” are a playful reminder to her kids to “pee before we go” before leaving the house—a common parental phrase.
Despite the innocent and humorous intention, New Hampshire’s DMV ruled the plates inappropriate, interpreting the letters as a reference to “sexual or excretory acts or functions,” thus violating their regulations against certain content on vanity plates.
Auger received a formal letter requiring her to turn in the plates within 10 days. While she could choose a new customized plate at no cost, losing her longtime plates felt like a blow. The plates had been conversation starters and brought smiles to passersby.
Her social media post about the recall went viral, sparking public outcry. Many commenters found the ban ridiculous and praised the plates as witty and harmless reminders. The story caught the attention of New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, who intervened and overturned the DMV’s ruling, letting Auger keep her plates.
New Hampshire governor steps in to help woman keep ‘PB4WEGO’ vanity plate https://t.co/Sf9kp5ff8l pic.twitter.com/cvCdstikxK
— Tulsa World (@tulsaworld) August 29, 2019
Auger joked about the ordeal on social media and appreciates the victory as a win for common sense and family fun. Her case sheds light on how regulatory bodies balance content standards with individual expression on license plates.
