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Seth Bykofsky, a resident of Long Island, had the license plate PB4WEGO for years, until the New York DMV, equivalent to our DMV, revoked the personalized plate for alleged offense. The turnaround came when Governor Kathy Hochul called in person and ordered it returned.
A 69-year-old grandfather almost lost the joke that most entertains his grandchildren due to a bureaucratic decision, but he received unexpected help. Seth Bykofsky, a resident of Long Island, New York, saw the local DMV revoke his PB4WEGO plate, until the state’s governor got involved and ordered it returned. The case was reported by CBS New York, a CBS network affiliate in the city.
The most unusual aspect is the authority overriding its own agency. The governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, not only defended the PB4WEGO plate but also personally called the owner and promised to reverse the DMV‘s decision, the traffic department she herself oversees. All for an acronym that, at its core, is just a dad and grandpa joke.
What PB4WEGO means
The letters and number of the PB4WEGO plate form, in English, the phrase “pee before we go,” which means something like “pee before we leave.” It’s the kind of warning every father and grandfather repeats before hitting the road with the family.
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The origin is pure everyday life. Seth Bykofsky explained that he created the abbreviation from his experience with his two children and later with his four grandchildren. As soon as the car drove for ten minutes, someone would announce they needed a bathroom far from any stop. That’s how the family motto was born, which he immortalized on the personalized plate and makes the kids laugh every time they read it.
Why the DMV revoked the personalized plate
The confusion began with a letter. In January 2026, the DMV of New York informed Bykofsky that its “rigorous screening process” had concluded that the PB4WEGO plate was no longer in compliance with the rules, classifying it as questionable. For those from Brazil, it’s worth remembering that the DMV is the American equivalent of the Detran, the agency responsible for licensing and registration.
The detail that made everything more absurd was the timing. Bykofsky had been using that personalized plate for years and had driven with it through about 15 American states, bringing smiles wherever he went. Suddenly, without any new developments, the same PB4WEGO plate that had never bothered anyone was deemed inappropriate by the DMV, and the grandfather found himself forced to return it.
The call from the Governor of New York
After the story went viral, the Governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, personally called Seth Bykofsky in February 2026 to deliver the news he wanted to hear. Instead of a cold statement, it was a direct conversation, from someone who enjoyed the case.
Her words left no doubt. Hochul said she had read about the drama in the newspapers, loved the personalized plate, and would retrieve it for him. “I think everyone should be reminded to pee before leaving, I have kids and grandkids and wholeheartedly support the idea,” stated the governor, ordering the DMV to reverse its decision and return the PB4WEGO plate.
A small gesture that turned into a victory
The outcome turned a hassle into a celebration. With the order from the Governor of New York, the PB4WEGO plate was cleared to return to the streets, and Bykofsky could put back on his car the pun that had accompanied him for so long. The episode was celebrated by many as a victory for good humor.
More than the plate itself, what caught attention was the gesture. A busy authority taking the time to call in person, defend a harmless joke, and oppose the DMV is the kind of charming story that travels far. A grandfather’s personalized plate became a symbol that not every rule needs to be taken so seriously.
What is a personalized plate and why can it be revoked?
It’s worth understanding how this works. In the United States, the driver can pay for a custom license plate, choosing letters and numbers that form a word, a name, or a joke, like the famous plate PB4WEGO. It’s a popular custom and a form of expression on the car.
However, freedom has limits defined by the DMV. Each request goes through a screening that blocks terms considered offensive, obscene, or heavily double-meaning, and it’s in this sieve that many funny plates end up being rejected or canceled. In the case of the grandfather from New York, the measure was considered exaggerated by so many people that even the governor disagreed, proving that the line between offensive and funny is indeed debatable.
When good humor beats bureaucracy
In the end, the story proves that a good joke withstands even official paperwork. A 69-year-old grandfather, four grandchildren laughing at the plate PB4WEGO, and a governor willing to call in person turned a boring revocation into one of those news stories that make the day lighter. The custom license plate returned to the car, and the motto of peeing before leaving remained strong on the roads of New York.
And you, if you could create a custom license plate for your car, what phrase or joke would you put on it? Share here in the comments the funniest idea you would use, even at the risk of the DMV not approving.
