A New Hampshire mother of four was left stunned when the state’s Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) ordered her to surrender a vanity license plate she had proudly displayed for 15 years. The plates, a lighthearted reminder for her children to use the bathroom before heading out, were suddenly deemed inappropriate by the DMV.
Wendy Auger, from Rochester, New Hampshire, had never imagined that her plate, which read “PB4WEGO,” would spark controversy. The message, which stands for “pee before we go,” was a simple reminder she gave her kids before they hopped into the car. She had received compliments over the years for the funny and practical message, but the DMV interpreted it as referring to “sexual or excretory acts or functions.”
In 2019, the DMV sent Auger a letter instructing her to turn in her beloved vanity plates. “It would just stink if I don’t have it anymore,” said Auger, who often received praise for the clever plates. “If I have to take it off the plate, then I’m not going to be able to live free,” she added, referencing the state’s famous motto, “Live Free or Die.”
As a paralegal and mother, Auger pointed out the harmless nature of the plate. “Who hasn’t said to their kids ‘pee before we go’?” she remarked. “This is just a non-offensive thing that’s been a part of who we are as a family.” She expressed her disbelief at the DMV’s decision, emphasizing, “There was zero reason for them to take it away.”
The DMV’s letter claimed that the combination of letters on her plate referred to inappropriate acts. Auger was given 10 days to turn in the plate and was offered the chance to select another customized plate at no additional charge.
After receiving the letter, Auger shared the recall notice on Facebook, along with photos of her plates. The post quickly went viral, with one commenter calling it “a ridiculous situation” and praising the plate as “funny and cute” and a “really good reminder.” Another remarked, “What’s going on?! You’ve had that plate FOREVER.” A third user jokingly suggested, “Would that be Pee or Pay…??? lol.”
Auger, not one to shy away from humor, responded to those encouraging her to petition the recall with a playful, “Live free or die my arse,” and joked, “I think ‘DMV SUX’ will be my next one… but I may get pulled over quite often lol.”
Her viral post eventually caught the attention of New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, who personally intervened and reversed the DMV’s decision. He left Auger a message, saying, “Hey Wendy, it’s Chris Sununu. How are you? Just want to let you know we took care of that issue… sorry for that little bureaucratic hold-up… but obviously, common sense prevailed.”
On August 28, 2019, Auger shared her victory on Facebook, announcing, “This Sassy Momma Has Her Plates!!!” with a sense of triumph.
Wendy’s story sparked widespread support and laughter, showing how a lighthearted family tradition became an unexpected battleground of common sense and bureaucratic overreach. The saga of the “PB4WEGO” plates will undoubtedly remain a memorable example of a mother’s determination to hold on to her family’s sense of humor—and her plates!