Are all DMVs alike?

[twinmaker]

Well, Steve and I went to get our drivers' licenses on Friday afternoon here in NC. Unlike other states, (and trust me, we've moved a lot) you can't just produce your valid out of state license, take an eye test, plop down your money and get a license in NC. First we had to come up with all sorts of documents to prove we were who we are. Birth certificates(no copies), bank statements, Social Security cards(not copies), and of course our valid out of state license. Then after waiting for an eternity in a sea of humanity, we had to take a written test, (with a drivers' test at the examiner's discretion). We had roughly 15 minutes to take a written test (no computers here) of 25 poorly written, stupid, nothing to do with safe driving questions that I've ever seen. Before you start to think that I failed and am just griping, we both passed. Since it was almost 5PM, we didn't have to take the driving test. I don't know why I'm griping to you all about this. I guess it's just what going to the DMV does to me. Are Steve and I the only ones affected by these places? They all seem the same to me, except that NC DMV seems to want to make it more difficult than it needs to be. Sorry for the ranting. LINDA PS We're really looking forward to going and spending the day at the tag office to get those wonderful looking car tags.

 

[dj/utvolsfan]

Vent all you want!!! I think DMV's are the same everywhere. There is a comedian who talks about them in a skit of his...not sure if it is Dane Cook or Kevin James.....With my pumphead it could be David Chappelle. Not sure. Anyway, even when I've shown up 30 minutes before they were to open, there was still a line of people. Go figure!
Debbi

 

[Lisa in Katy]

We have a "small" office in Katy that's located in the VFW hall. It used to be open only 2 days a week, but has expanded to 5 days a week with the rapid growth in the area (Katy is large enough to support 6 5A high schools now, each with about 3000 students). It's mainly to keep people from having to go to overcrowded Houston offices. Anyway, they still haven't installed a "take a number" system. Everyone sits in folding chairs in rows stretched across the dance floor. As each person leaves the front of the line to finally get their time with the clerk, everyone in the line behind them scoots up one chair. We went on a Friday on a school early dismissal day for my daughter to take her written test. There were probably at least a hundred people in line in front of us, so we slowly scooted our way up through about 100 chairs. When we finally got to the front, about 2 hours later, we were directed to a computer, where she passed her test and received her permit without ever talking to a clerk.

I had a similar experience at the Social Security office. I needed a new card and there are only 2 offices in the Houston area to serve the millions of people who live here. After fighting my way through the phone system, I found that I could send in my ORIGINAL driver's license and it takes about 2 weeks to process. After 3 weeks, I fought my way through the phone system again to talk to a real person, only to find that the 2 weeks doesn't start until they open your envelope, and that takes about 6 weeks. Not willing to be without my driver's license for another 5 weeks, I went to the office and after about 1.5 hours, they dug through the stack of mail, found my driver's license, and issued me a letter saying that I would receive my card in about 2 weeks.

I'm assuming that these offices are terribly understaffed, and many of the people that they do have are obsessed with the feeling of power over the rest of us peons who are at their mercy.

 

[Ross]

After working retail management for years, I vowed when it was over I was going to work for the DMV just so I could pay back all those snotty customers I had to deal with throughout my career.

 

[twinmaker]

I thought the guy that helped(?) me at the DMV looked familiar. I wonder if he was the guy that worked at the Sears store in Tampa? LINDA