Vanity plates provide car owners with a distinctive avenue for self-expression and a means to personalize their vehicles. These plates, available for an additional fee, offer an outlet for creativity and an opportunity to display something unique. However, state authorities and motor vehicle departments occasionally intervene, rejecting vanity plate requests they consider inappropriate.
Recently, Wendy Auger experienced disappointment when her cherished vanity plate, proudly displayed for fifteen years, was turned down. Her plate, “PB4WEGO,” had brought joy to many as she drove through the streets and byways of her home state, New Hampshire. A bartender in the Gonic neighborhood of Rochester, Auger was surprised by the DMV’s decision to deem her plate, featuring the innocuous message “PB before we go,” offensive.
Auger views the rejection of her plate as an encroachment on her freedom of speech, as protected by the First Amendment. In her eyes, the phrase “PB before we go” simply offers practical advice, akin to what any parent might give to their children.
Acquiring the “PB4WEGO” plate was a carefully considered decision for Auger. She had searched for it diligently over the years, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to make it her own. When the state expanded the character limit on vanity plates from six to seven, she seized the chance to finally adorn her New Hampshire plate with her desired message.
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