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In the quiet, scenic state of New Hampshire, where the state motto “Live Free or Die” is emblazoned on every license plate, Wendy Auger believed she was doing exactly that. For fifteen years, her white and green vanity plate had been a source of consistent, low-stakes joy for fellow travelers and neighbors alike. The plate bore seven simple characters: PB4WEGO. To any parent, caregiver, or person who has ever embarked on a grueling family road trip, the translation was instantaneous and hilarious: “Pee before we go.” It was the universal mantra of the American minivan, a lighthearted reminder of the logistical realities of traveling with children. For over a decade and a half, the plate had been a fixture of Wendy’s identity, sparking smiles at stoplights and laughter in grocery store parking lots. It was a harmless bit of observational humor that seemed to epitomize the New England spirit of rugged independence and practical wit.
However, the bureaucratic machinery of the New Hampshire Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) eventually turned its gaze toward Wendy’s bumper, and the result was a sudden, jarring confrontation between personal expression and state regulation. Out of the blue, Wendy received a formal notification that her beloved plate had been recalled. The state’s reasoning was as clinical as it was surprising: the plate allegedly violated state guidelines regarding “inappropriate” or “offensive” content. The DMV’s sudden reversal after fifteen years of tacit approval left Wendy in a state of bewilderment and profound disappointment. To her, the message was the antithesis of offensive; it was a celebration of a shared, wholesome human experience.
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