Governor Hochul Intervenes to Save Grandfather's Humorous Licence Plate
A New York grandfather has successfully retained his cheeky yet mildly vulgar licence plate that playfully references a common issue of ageing, following direct intervention from the state's governor. Seth Bykofsky, aged 69, had been instructed by the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to immediately remove his personalised plate, which reads 'PB4YOUGO', as it was deemed to violate state regulations.
A Personal Apology from the Governor
Governor Kathy Hochul personally telephoned Mr Bykofsky to apologise for the administrative error and to assure him that his licence plate would be reinstated. "I read about your plight in the news," Governor Hochul told him. "The DMV took away your hilarious plate. I loved it. I think everybody should be reminded to pee before you go. I have kids and grandkids, and I support the effort wholeheartedly."
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, Mr Bykofsky expressed his profound relief at the outcome. "I am, to put it mildly, relieved," he declared. "A victory for the little guy, whose voice is too often drowned out. More than this, a triumph for free speech. We can all now PB4WEGO without fear or favor."
The DMV's Initial Ruling and Bykofsky's Appeal
The New York DMV had originally ruled that Seth Bykofsky's 'PB4YOUGO' licence plate failed to comply with state regulations, which prohibit plates considered "derogatory, contemptuous, degrading, disrespectful or inflammatory." In a formal letter dispatched to his West Hempstead residence on January 24, the agency ordered him to "immediately remove plates PB4WEGO, destroy them, and replace them," warning that continued use would be unlawful.
Mr Bykofsky, feeling his individuality was "lost" and his personality "quashed," launched a public appeal. He took to Facebook, posting the DMV letter and posing a rhetorical question: "Who doesn't break out in a broad grin, or emit a mild chuckle, upon seeing a clever, witty, or funny custom license plate? Who?" He answered it himself: "Apparently, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles."
He vehemently rejected any suggestion that the plate on his Hyundai Tucson Hybrid was offensive. "In all my years as a parent and now, grandparent, the worst I've gotten has been a gentle roll of the eyes from my kids and grandkids," he stated. He framed the DMV's action as a "subtle attempt to stifle free speech and infringe upon a basic First Amendment right," lamenting that "Individuality, lost. Personality, quashed. Even the semblance of mild humor, extinguished."
A Victory for Humour and Free Expression
Governor Hochul's intervention proved decisive. During their conversation, Mr Bykofsky humorously noted that his three grandsons and one granddaughter are "all who proudly pee before they go." Governor Hochul agreed, responding, "They learned well from their grandpa, and I think that's an important lesson." She concluded the call by saying, "I'm sorry for the inconvenience, and I'm glad we can put things right again."
Mr Bykofsky, whose car was in Florida at the time, eagerly anticipated its return. "I think it'll be magnificent, because we'll probably get more recognition on the roadways," he told the New York Post. "Everybody will be looking and honking and say, 'hey, it's the guy who pees before we go!'"
A Precedent for Personalised Plates
This incident is not an isolated case. In 2024, New Hampshire resident Wendy Auger was ordered by her state's DMV to remove an identical 'PB4WEGO' plate, cited for its links to "sexual or excretory acts or functions." That decision was also overturned after intervention from then-Governor Chris Sununu, mirroring Governor Hochul's actions in New York.
The Daily Mail has contacted both the New York DMV and Governor Hochul's office for additional commentary on this matter, which highlights the ongoing tension between bureaucratic regulation and personal expression on the nation's roads.
