A mother of four was shocked when New Hampshire’s Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) demanded she surrender the vanity plates she had 15 years.
The plates are a gentle reminder to each of her sons to use the potty before jumping into the car.
But, failing to appreciate Wendy Auger’s harmless message, the DMV determined the plates referred to “sexual or excretory acts or functions.”
In 2019, Wendy Auger, of Rochester, New Hampshire, was instructed by New Hampshire’s DMV to turn in the vanity license plate she used for 15 years.
“It would just stink if I don’t have it anymore,” said the mother of four, who frequently receives compliments over her hilarious plates.
Referring to the state’s motto, “live free or die,” Auger then adds, “If I have to take it off the plate, then I’m not going to be able to live free.”
Her plates read “PB4WEGO,” which reminds her children that before they hop into the car to “pee before we go.”
“Who has a mom or dad or parental figure who hasn’t said that to kids before leaving the house?” the paralegal asks. “I’m not the type to sit here with a picket, but come on.”
“I’m not a political activist,” she tells 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 and there was zero reason for them to take it away.”
According to the letter sent by the DMV that demands the surrender of the plates, the combination of letters in her plates refer to “sexual or excretory acts or functions.”
At the time, Auger had 10 days to turn in her plate and was given the option to choose another customized plate at no extra cost.
After she received the letter, the woman shared the recall letter on Facebook along with photos of her plates.
The post went viral. One netizen comments on Auger’s social media page: “Such a ridiculous situation… Not only is it funny and cute, it’s a really good reminder!” And a second writes, “what’s going on?! You’ve had that plate FOREVER.”
A third offers a solution, “Would that be Pee or Pay…??? lol”
Responding to the users who encouraged her to petition the recall, Auger shares, “Live free or die my arse,” she shares, later joking, “I think dmv sux will be my next one…but I may get pulled over quite often lol.”
Making its rounds on social media, her post eventually captured the attention of New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, who overturned the ruling. He left her a message saying: “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.”
On August 28, 2019, Auger shared a new Facebook message, announcing her victory. Wendy could keep her vanity plates.
“This Sassy Momma Has Her Plates!!!,” writes Auger.