New Hampshire

NH Wants to Recall ‘PB4WEGO' Vanity Plate After 15 Years, and Dozens More Plates

"Who has a mom or dad or parental figure who hasn't said that to kids before leaving the house?" said the license plate's owner, who is appealing

A New Hampshire mom is putting up a fight after being told to surrender the vanity license plate she's had for 15 years.

This month, Gonic resident Wendy Auger got a letter from the Department of Motor Vehicles saying her plate "PB4WEGO" is in violation of state requirements.

Auger says she's just a mom with a useful motto.

"Grab a water bottle and pee before we go," she explained.

For the last 15 years, that reminder has been on her license plate.

"I've been a mom for 27 years and I've been saying this for 27 years," Auger said.

Her family says the vanity plate has become part of her identity.

"Everybody recognizes that plate with Wendy and they all love it," her boyfriend Corey West said.

"I get honks, thumbs up," Auger said smiling. "I get people taking pictures of my license plate all the time."

But a couple weeks ago she got a letter from the DMV saying her vanity plate was in violation of a state code because it referenced an "excretory function."

"I was shocked," she said.

Auger was ordered to surrender the plate within ten days. She didn't.

"I decided to appeal it immediately," she said.

Auger wrote a letter back to the DMV, arguing that not only does it bring smiles to strangers, but it's a saying everyone has heard before.

"It's not offensive," Auger said. "It's what you and everybody says to your children before you walk out the door."

She's a parent just trying to avoid a pit stop and it appears other moms and dads are on her side.

"Where's her freedom of speech," asked Gonic resident Jim Andrews. "It's not derogatory."

Andrews and other nearby residents think Auger should be able to keep her plate.

According to a letter Auger recently received from the DMV, her appeal is now being reviewed by the legal department.

Auger will be allowed to keep her plate until a final decision is made.

Contact Us