Grandfather’s ‘PB4WEGO’ license plate OK’d by NY Gov. Kathy Hochul

“I have kids and grandkids, and I support the effort wholeheartedly,” the governor told the grandfather of four.

Jonathan Limehouse / USA TODAY

A Long Island grandfather got approval from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to continue driving around with his humorous “PB4WEGO” license plate.

In a Feb. 24 Facebook post, Seth Bykofsky, 69, wrote, “WE WON!” He added, “Justice – and humor – prevail! NY Governor Kathy Hochul Gives Reprieve To PB4WEGO Plate.”

Hochul shared a video on her Instagram on Feb. 24, during which she speaks with Bykofsky on the phone, and wrote the caption: “Seth’s license plate is a public service.”

Bykofsky had been going back and forth with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, which he said in a Feb. 8 Facebook post previously issued his PB4WEGO license plate, before deeming it “objectionable” earlier this year.

“I read about your plight in the news, that the DMV took away your hilarious license plate,” Hochul says in the Instagram video. “I loved it.”

Hochul also says in the video that she would get Bykofsky’s plate back for him because she “thinks everybody should be reminded to pee before you go.”

“I have kids and grandkids, and I support the effort wholeheartedly,” the governor said to the grandfather of four.

Long Island grandfather jokes about running for NY governor

In Bykofsky’s Feb. 8 Facebook post, he also jokingly announced his “independent candidacy for Governor of the great State of New York.” The humorous comment came before Hochul approved his license plate.

“I do not embark on this journey lightly, but rather, with a heavy foot on the accelerator, and a full tank of gas,” Bykofsky’s post reads. “I run, not for myself, but for my children, for my grandchildren, for parents, grandparents, and every NYer who has ever started down that long and winding road of life, only to find that every one of us, at one time or another, needs to Pee Before We Go.”

After Bykofsky’s conversation with Hochul, he shared another Facebook post on Feb. 24, announcing that he is “officially suspending (his) campaign for Governor of the Great State of New York.”

“Thank you to all who supported this bold endeavor, both on behalf of the silly and absurd, and in advance of our First Amendment right to freedom of expression,” Bykofsky’s post says. “This victory is not just mine. It’s yours. The right to PB4WEGO belongs to all of us. EXCELSIOR!”

What are New York’s license plate restrictions?

According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, “no person has a right to a particular personalized plate,” as the DMV issues such plates based on the sole discretion of the commissioner.

Personalized license plates that include a plate number that “represents a word, phrase, expression, or that has a meaning, connotation or format that the commissioner deems objectionable shall not be issued.” Such plates that the commissioner may deem unissuable are ones that:

• Are obscene, profane, vulgar, repulsive, depraved, or lewd.
• Describe or refer to a sexual or intimate body part, area or function.
• Describe or refer to eliminatory or other bodily functions.
• Are derogatory, contemptuous, degrading, disrespectful or inflammatory.
• Express, describe, advertise, advocate, promote, encourage, glorify, or condone violence, crime or unlawful conduct.
• Describe, connote, or refer to illegal drug(s), controlled substance(s) or related paraphernalia.
• May constitute copyright infringement, or infringement of a trademark, trade name, service mark, or patent.
• Refer to, suggest, or may appear to refer to or to suggest any governmental or law enforcement purpose, function or entity.
• Do not have at least one letter, consist of six numbers followed by one letter, or may be misleading or confusing in identifying a plate number (for example, the substitution of the numeral zero for the letter “O”).
• Reserved for issuance to specific classes of vehicles other than passenger vehicles (for example, plates assigned to county clerks, members of certain professions, historic motor vehicles, etc.).

(Source : usatoday.com)