A TRIP TO THE DMV

A TRIP TO THE DMV

A trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles to change license plates, transfer auto ownership renew a driver permit or take care of anything car, is no fun in any state.  In New Jersey it is pitiful.  Before the NJ DMV operations were privatized, I would have preferred eating glass to going to the DMV.  Privatization has improved things quite a bit.  I would now go to the DMV before I would eat glass.  If the culinary option was worms I would have to think for a moment.

I went to the DMV today to renew a car registration.  Yes I could have just mailed it in, but there were complications due to my recent address change so I decided to play it safe and renew it in person.  As it was the end of the month the office was crowded with people like me who waited until the last minute.   I arrived early, just after the doors opened and stood in a line of about twelve earlier arrivals.  The DMV service and their operational systems are light-years ahead of what they used to be, but the servants behind the counter have not changed.

There has been much talk lately about bullying.  Bullying is a major problem in our society today.  What becomes of the bullied?  Some lose all self-esteem and fail at their every endeavor.  Some cannot take the abuse and commit suicide.  In extreme cases the bullied become workers for the DMV, and they extract retribution!

The line was moving at a snail’s pace when one of the workers left for a coffee break.  A coffee break, mind you, less than a half hour into the working day.  The going on a break process took ten minutes just to pull the cash drawer, count the money, and turn off the computer.  Five minutes later the relief clerk arrived with a new cash drawer.  It took five minutes for him to count out money and set up the cash drawer.  He then proceeded to spray and wipe Lysol on the counter, the money drawer, the computer and his chair all at a pace which reminded one of melting ice in the winter.  He then turned the computer back on.

Fifteen minutes after he arrived Mr. DMV was ready.  “Next,” he called out.  The confused looking senior in front of me walked up to the counter and mumbled something. 

Mr. DMV asked, “Driver’s license please.”  Then he pulled the favorite trick that these once bullied cretins who finally have some power love to pull.  “People….PLEASE HAVE YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE READY BEFORE YOU COME TO THE COUNTER.  Not like this idiot up here!”

Mr. DMV asked for some documentation.  The confused old man mumbled something. 

“People….PLEASE HAVE YOUR DOCUMENTATION READY BEFORE YOU COME TO THE COUNTER.  Not like this idiot up here!”

The senior mumbled something.

“COUNTER NUMBER 8 PLEASE….NEXT!”

The old dude mumbled something about being sent here from counter number 8.

“NEXT!”

“But I was just….I….but…”

“NEXT!”

I was incensed at how this old man was treated.  Mr. DMV was abrupt, discourteous and had absolutely no respect for this confused senior citizen who clearly needed some extra assistance. 

Fuming, I rushed up to the counter.  I was going to give this jerk a piece of my mind.

But first I gave him my driver’s license, all appropriate documentation, and a check.  He printed out my new registration, I took it and left.

Screw the piece of my mind, I was just ecstatic to be getting outta there!

On my way out I bumped into the old man who was walking in circles and mumbling to himself.  I stopped, grabbed him by the shoulder and pointed him to counter number 8.  “Be sure to have your driver’s license and all documentation ready!” 

I do have some compassion.