When Wendy Auger received an official letter from New Hampshire’s Department of Motor Vehicles, she couldn’t believe what she was reading. After a decade and a half of driving around with the same vanity license plate, state officials suddenly decided her harmless family reminder was somehow offensive.
The Rochester mother of four had been proudly displaying “PB4WEGO” on her vehicle since 2004—a clever abbreviation that any parent would instantly recognize as “pee before we go.” It was her practical, lighthearted way of reminding her sons to use the bathroom before family car trips.
But bureaucrats at the DMV saw something entirely different.
A Bathroom Reminder Becomes a Bureaucratic Battle
In 2019, Auger opened her mailbox to find an official demand from the state: surrender your plates within 10 days. The reason? According to the DMV’s letter, her plate allegedly referenced “sexual or excretory acts or functions”—a classification that left the paralegal absolutely bewildered.
“It would just stink if I don’t have it anymore,” Auger said, noting how frequently people complimented her on the clever wordplay. The irony wasn’t lost on her either, given New Hampshire’s famous state motto.
“If I have to take it off the plate, then I’m not going to be able to live free,” she quipped, referencing the “Live Free or Die” slogan that appears on every New Hampshire license plate.
The Universal Parent Experience
For Auger, the whole situation seemed absurd. “Who has a mom or dad or parental figure who hasn’t said that to kids before leaving the house?” she asked, genuinely puzzled by the sudden controversy surrounding what she considered a universal parenting moment.
“I’m not the type to sit here with a picket, but come on,” the frustrated mother added.
Speaking to CNN about the bizarre turn of events, she emphasized that this wasn’t about making a political statement. “I’m not a political activist. 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 and there was zero reason for them to take it away.”
The state gave her an ultimatum: turn in the offending plates and select a replacement at no charge, or face potential penalties.
Social Media Rallies Behind the Mom
Instead of quietly complying, Auger decided to share her story. She posted the DMV’s demand letter on Facebook along with photos of her contested license plate, and the response was immediate and overwhelming.
The post exploded across social media platforms, with supporters rallying to her cause. “Such a ridiculous situation… Not only is it funny and cute, it’s a really good reminder!” wrote one commenter. Another chimed in with disbelief: “what’s going on?! You’ve had that plate FOREVER.”
Some users even offered creative alternatives, with one suggesting, “Would that be Pee or Pay…??? lol”
As encouragement poured in from people urging her to fight the decision, Auger’s frustration was evident. “Live free or die my arse,” she responded to supporters, then jokingly added, “I think dmv sux will be my next one…but I may get pulled over quite often lol.”
Governor Steps In to Save the Day
The viral nature of Auger’s story eventually caught the attention of someone who could actually do something about it: New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu. The governor personally intervened and overturned the DMV’s ruling.
Sununu left Auger a voicemail that she later shared: “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.”
Victory for the Sassy Momma
On August 28, 2019, Auger triumphantly returned to Facebook with an update that delighted her newfound supporters.
“This Sassy Momma Has Her Plates!!!,” she announced, celebrating her victory over what many saw as government overreach disguised as moral guardianship.
The case became a perfect example of how social media can amplify individual voices against bureaucratic decisions—and how sometimes, a little public pressure can restore common sense to official proceedings.
Auger’s experience resonated with parents everywhere who recognized the innocent, practical nature of her personalized plate. It also highlighted the sometimes arbitrary nature of government regulations and the power of community support in challenging questionable official decisions.

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

What started as a simple bathroom reminder for her kids became a symbol of parental rights and common-sense governance—proving that sometimes the most effective activism happens when ordinary people refuse to accept unreasonable authority.
So what’s the most creative license plate you’ve encountered? Share your thoughts and pass along this story—because apparently, even the most innocent family jokes can become battles worth fighting.