Long Island Grandfather Shares Hilarious Meaning Behind ‘PB4WEGO’ License Plates (Exclusive)
The vanity license plates were a hit in the community, until they were revoked by the DMV—see what happened next!
Long Island resident Seth Bykofsky just wanted to make people laugh, and that’s exactly what he did with his clever vanity license plates. Many years ago, Bykofsky adopted the fatherly admonishment and dad joke of “Pee Before We Go” and turned it into the “PB4WEGO” plates.
The joke earned Bykofsky some laughs, a few thumbs up and plenty of smiles from fellow drivers. But when the New York State DMV revoked his plates because they were “no longer in compliance,” Bykofsky turned to Governor Kathy Hochul for help.
“Thanks to the Governor’s Pardon of my plate, my car, with PB4WEGO firmly affixed, is free to roam the country as a Public Service Announcement,” Bykofsky shared exclusively with Woman’s World. “Moms, Dads, Grandparents, rejoice!”
He then added, “I consider this a victory for the little guy, whose voice is all too often drowned out or stifled by the powers-that-be. More importantly, this is a triumph for our First Amendment right of freedom of expression.”
Woman’s World had a chance to catch up with Bykofsky and learn more about the story behind the plates and some of the funny moments they have sparked.
We also got a hilarious reaction from his daughter, Melissa Bykofsky, who declared she was “embarrassed whenever I borrowed his car and would be stuck in traffic.” She explained that she’d have “cars honk at me to roll down the window and say how funny the plate [was].”
Woman’s World: What made you want to get a vanity license plate in the first place?
Seth Bykofsky: I’m a big believer in individualism, and in speaking my mind. Often, it gets me into trouble. In this instance, I like to think of it as, “good trouble.” The custom plate seemed like a simple way to make a statement—in what I thought was a clever, witty and punny way—as well as to avoid an unnecessary pit stop.
WW: What’s the story behind ‘PB4WEGO’?
SB: When my kids were little—and now, of course, grandkids—every road trip was preceded by a fatherly or grandfatherly admonishment to “Pee Before We Go.” They’d shrug, roll their eyes, and, true to form, scream, “WE DON’T HAVE TO PEE!” Sure enough, no more than 10 minutes into the journey, I would hear, “Dad (now, Pops), we have to pee!” To this day my two girls tell everyone that their dad refused to stop the car to let them go.
So getting this plate seemed natural. Well, to everyone, but for the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles, whose algorithms apparently took umbrage to having “P” on a plate.
(Bykofsky’s daughter, Melissa, confirmed that her dad would never stop the car once they’d left. “He would literally never stop at a rest stop when we drove,” she explained. “I blame him for my perpetual dehydration because I was scared to drink too much water in fear I’d need to pee while en route anywhere.”)
WW: Many people have stopped to laugh with you about the license plate. What kind of community have you found since getting them?
SB: I have found that common bond of community I like to call “humanity.” That which allows us to laugh, not only at the mundane and sometimes silly little things that are a part of our everyday lives, but at ourselves.
Face it, in a world with far too little to laugh about, we could all use a chuckle every now and then. It makes my day when someone sees the PB4WEGO plate and smiles. All of us should aspire to bring more happiness into the world.
WW: What are some funny stories of people reacting to PB4WEGO?
SB: What really warms my heart is when, say, folks are crossing the street when I’m stopped at a light. They stare at the plate, momentarily confused, and then, it clicks. An ear-to-ear grin comes to their faces, and I get a big thumbs up. Pure joy!
I’ve also had a police car pull up next to me, the Officer motioning to roll down my window. My heart stopped. “I had to tell you that you gave me a good laugh,” he said. “Nicely played!”
From all walks of life, every persuasion, all over the political spectrum, people stop, look, and smile. What better way to unite us as a people but a feel good moment, as fleeting as it may be.
I suppose I can sum this up by saying that, with Governor Hochul’s reprieve for my license plate, we can all be relieved, in so many ways, free once again to PB4WEGO!
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