After 15 Years, the State Called Her License Plate “Inappropriate”—But This Mom Refused to Back Down

For over fifteen years, Wendy Auger of Rochester, New Hampshire, drove her car with a playful parenting mantra displayed right on her license plate. Her custom plate, “PB4WEGO,” was a humorous take on the age-old parental reminder: “Pee before we go.” It had become a family inside joke, a conversation starter, and a harmless quip that brought smiles to strangers’ faces since the mid-2000s.

But the laughter came to an abrupt halt when Wendy received an official letter from the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). In a decision that left the mother of four stunned, the department ordered her to surrender her plates immediately. The reason? State officials had suddenly deemed the letter combination “offensive” because it allegedly referenced “sexual or excretory acts or functions.” After fifteen years of trouble-free driving, the government decided Wendy’s lighthearted parenting advice violated public decency standards.

The irony wasn’t lost on anyone—especially in a state whose motto is “Live Free or Die.” Wendy, a paralegal who never considered herself a political activist, felt the sting of the contradiction immediately. “If I have to take it off the plate, then I’m not going to be able to live free,” she pointed out. She argued that the phrase was a universal part of childhood—a practical, relatable reminder used by parents everywhere to avoid unnecessary pit stops. To her, the DMV’s sudden objection felt like an absurd overreach over a harmless family joke.

Facing a ten-day deadline to turn in her plates, Wendy refused to accept the decision without a fight. She took to social media, sharing the DMV’s recall letter and photos of her car. The internet’s response was swift and overwhelming. Her post went viral, sparking an outpouring of support from thousands who found the state’s ruling ridiculous. Commenters called the situation “absurd” and “adorable,” with many noting that the plate served as a helpful reminder for anyone with young kids.

As the story gained national attention, appearing on major networks like CNN, it eventually reached the highest levels of state government. New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu caught wind of the “potty humor” controversy and decided to intervene. In a personal move that bypassed the DMV’s rigid bureaucracy, the Governor reached out to Wendy directly.

“Hey Wendy, it’s Chris Sununu,” the Governor said in a message. “Just want to let you know we took care of that issue… sorry for that little bureaucratic holdup.” He admitted the situation lacked common sense and officially reversed the DMV’s demand.

On August 28, Wendy took to Facebook one final time to share her victory with the thousands who had followed her fight. “This Sassy Momma Has Her Plates!” she declared triumphantly. The reversal wasn’t just a win for a funny license plate—it was a victory for common sense in a world of increasingly rigid rules. Wendy’s story serves as a reminder that sometimes, standing your ground—even over something as small as a seven-letter phrase—can lead to a win for everyone who values a little freedom and a lot of humor. Wendy and her “PB4WEGO” plates are back on the road, proving that even a “little bureaucratic holdup” is no match for a determined mom with a sense of humor.