A mother of four in New Hampshire was left stunned when the state’s Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) ordered her to surrender the vanity license plates she had proudly used for 15 years.
The playful plates served as a lighthearted reminder for her four sons to use the bathroom before getting into the car. However, the DMV interpreted the message differently, claiming it referred to “excretory acts or functions.”
In 2019, Wendy Auger from Rochester, New Hampshire, was notified by the DMV that her beloved plates, which read “PB4WEGO” (short for “pee before we go”), had to be returned.
“It would be a real shame if I have to give them up,” said Auger, who often received compliments on her humorous plates. She pointed to the state’s famous motto, “Live free or die,” adding, “If they make me give them up, I won’t be living free.”
Auger explained the harmless intent behind the plates, saying, “Who hasn’t told their kids to use the bathroom before leaving the house?” Despite this, the DMV’s letter insisted that the plate’s message violated rules about referencing “sexual or excretory acts.”
Frustrated by the decision, Auger shared the DMV’s recall letter and photos of her plates on Facebook, where her post quickly went viral. Support poured in, with many social media users expressing disbelief. One person commented, “It’s not just funny, it’s practical!” Another wrote, “You’ve had that plate forever—this is ridiculous.”
In response to the situation, Auger joked about getting a new plate with a bold message: “Maybe my next one will say ‘DMV SUX,’ but I might get pulled over a lot!”
Her post eventually caught the attention of New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, who intervened to overturn the DMV’s ruling. In a voicemail, Sununu assured Auger, “We took care of that issue… Sorry for the bureaucratic hold-up, but common sense prevailed.”
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
On August 28, 2019, Auger shared her victory on Facebook, excitedly writing, “This Sassy Momma Has Her Plates!!!”
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