Mom of four told to give up her license plate after 15 years—DMV now says it’s inappropriate
After more than a decade, a mother faces a surprising demand from the DMV to surrender her beloved vanity plate
A New Hampshire mother of four was left stunned when the state’s Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) demanded that she turn in the custom license plate she had proudly displayed for 15 years.
The plate was meant to remind her sons to use the restroom before any car trip, but the DMV claimed it was inappropriate, citing it referenced “sexual or excretory acts or functions.”
Wendy Auger, a paralegal from Rochester, New Hampshire, had grown attached to her vanity plate, which read “PB4WEGO” — shorthand for “pee before we go.” It was a playful yet practical reminder to her kids, but the DMV didn’t see the humor in it.
The DMV’s letter stated that the combination of letters was considered inappropriate, despite Auger’s insistence that it was nothing more than a harmless family joke. “It would just stink if I don’t have it anymore,” she said, adding that she regularly received compliments from strangers on her creative plates.
Referring to New Hampshire’s state motto, “live free or die,” Auger expressed her frustration, saying, “If I have to take it off the plate, then I’m not going to be able to live free.”
In response to the recall letter, Auger shared her situation on Facebook, posting photos of her plates and the DMV’s message. The post quickly went viral, sparking widespread support from the online community. Many people found the recall ridiculous and praised her for her clever vanity plate.
“Such a ridiculous situation… Not only is it funny and cute, it’s a really good reminder!” commented one user. “what’s going on?! You’ve had that plate FOREVER.” Another user wrote, “Would that be Pee or Pay…??? lol”
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
The story eventually caught the attention of New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, who intervened to reverse the DMV’s decision. He personally called Auger to inform her that common sense had won the day. “Hey Wendy, I’ts Chris Sununu, How are you? Hey, just want to let you know we took care of that issue…sorry for that little bureaucratic hold up up there…and the push back…but obviously common sense prevailed.” he told her.
On August 28, 2019, Auger happily shared an update on Facebook: “This Sassy Momma Has Her Plates!!!”
Wendy Auger’s story not only shows the power of social media but also highlights how a simple family joke became a symbol of resilience.
Have you seen any clever or funny license plates? Let us know and share your stories!
