A mother of four from Rochester, New Hampshire, was stunned when the state’s Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) ordered her to surrender a personalized license plate she had proudly displayed for 15 years. The seemingly innocent message on the plate served as a humorous reminder to her children to use the bathroom before getting in the car. But the DMV saw things differently, claiming the plate referenced “sexual or excretory acts or functions,” and demanded its removal.
Wendy Auger had owned the vanity plate since 2004. It read “PB4WEGO,” shorthand for “pee before we go”—a phrase familiar to virtually every parent. For Auger, the plate wasn’t just a joke. It was part of her family’s routine, a lighthearted nudge to her sons to avoid bathroom emergencies on the road. Over the years, she’d received countless compliments and laughs from strangers who appreciated the playful message. Yet, despite the good-natured intent behind it, the DMV ruled that it violated state policy and informed Auger she had 10 days to turn it in.
“It would just stink if I don’t have it anymore,” Auger said, clearly frustrated by the decision. Referring to New Hampshire’s state motto, “Live Free or Die,” she added, “If I have to take it off the plate, then I’m not going to be able to live free.” For her, losing the plate felt like more than a minor inconvenience—it felt like an unnecessary intrusion on a harmless family tradition.
When asked about the DMV’s interpretation of her plate, Auger couldn’t believe it. “Who has a mom or dad or parental figure who hasn’t said that to kids before leaving the house?” she said, expressing disbelief. “I’m not the type to sit here with a picket, but come on.” As a paralegal and a mother, Auger found the ruling baffling and overreaching. She emphasized that the plate was in no way offensive and certainly didn’t warrant such action.
“I’m not a political activist,” she told CNN. “But this is a non-offensive thing that I’ve had, and it’s part of who we are as a family and who I am. There was zero reason for them to take it away.” According to the DMV, the problem lay in the interpretation of the letters and numbers on her plate. In their official letter, the agency insisted the plate referred to bodily functions, which, by their standards, violated the rules governing vanity plates.
Once Auger received the letter, she wasted no time sharing her frustration. She posted the DMV’s notice along with a photo of her plates on Facebook. The post struck a chord, quickly going viral as people across the country rallied behind her. One user commented, “Such a ridiculous situation… Not only is it funny and cute, it’s a really good reminder!” Another added, “What’s going on?! You’ve had that plate FOREVER.” Someone else chimed in with humor, “Would that be Pee or Pay…??? lol.”
Support poured in, and many urged Auger to fight back. Responding to her supporters, she posted another update: “Live free or die my arse,” she quipped. Then, in jest, she added, “I think ‘DMV SUX’ will be my next one…but I may get pulled over quite often lol.” Her humor and determination resonated widely, turning a small-town DMV dispute into a national conversation about common sense and bureaucratic overreach.
As Auger’s post continued to circulate online, it eventually reached the office of New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu. Taking notice of the widespread support and public outcry, Governor Sununu stepped in and overturned the DMV’s decision. He personally reached out to Wendy, leaving her a voicemail that said: “Hey Wendy, it’s 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.”
On August 28, 2019, Wendy took to Facebook once again to share the good news with her followers. “This Sassy Momma Has Her Plates!!!” she wrote, celebrating her victory. The post was met with cheers and congratulations from those who had followed her story, many of whom felt vindicated by the outcome. The decision to let her keep the plate wasn’t just a win for Wendy—it was a win for anyone who values humor, tradition, and a touch of common sense in government decisions.
This lighthearted saga sparked a broader discussion about vanity plates, censorship, and how the public perceives harmless humor. What one agency might see as inappropriate, the wider community recognized as an endearing, relatable message. Wendy’s experience highlighted the importance of balancing rules with context, especially when those rules affect everyday people in such personal ways.
In the end, Wendy Auger’s story is a reminder of how small things—like a clever license plate—can bring people together and spark conversations that matter. Her determination to stand up for something that seemed trivial to some but meaningful to her paid off. Through humor, community support, and a bit of good old-fashioned perseverance, Wendy showed that even in the face of red tape, common sense—and a good laugh—can win.
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