DMV hijinks under Covid

[Jess from VA]

So back in December, I get a VA DMV email (I'm signed up for that) reminding me my drivers license expires on my BD in March.  All DMVs are closed, except by appointment.

Around here, for many years, there's always a 1000 people at every DMV office, so you never go unless you have no choice.  And take a large book with you.  But do not fall asleep, or your number will come up and you'll get passed over, and then you have to go get another number (375).    

So I go on-line, and the old login works, but they make me do a new password with 57 characters (or maybe 13).  (Ever since it became common knowledge all the 911 hijackers had VA drivers licenses, VA is extra security minded about these things.)  And I go through this long and tedious process, window by window.

I can get a 2yr online for a regular license, which is usually 6 (but not a real ID license because you have to bring your wheelbarrow full of records to an actual office for that).  I pay by CC, complete the process, and (at their advice) print the receipt.  The VA DMV only charges $8 for this, but with the Fairfax County graft, it increases to $48.

Some time goes by, and then I get a 2d email that my new license has been mailed.  And I start checking the mailbox, and nothing (now 14 days).  (good thing I have my printed receipt, and to buttress my (future) defense, I copied the 2d email too).

So I try to contact the DMV about this, but this is harder than you would think.  Now when you call, you just get a recording of some guy laughing.  (Not really, but the recording says they are swamped and to try again later; no waiting, no number ahead of you, no estimated wait time, just try again later).  Every time you call, early or late.  So it's just as good as a recording of some guy laughing.

So I tried to email them.  You useta could, but it's gone from the page now.  I googled around and found a link to the old email system, and took a while to make it short and sweet.  But it still had too many characters, so I made it shorter yet.  But then I learned that this old email link doesn't work at all.  It actually works great for all the typing you have to do on pages one and two, but page three will never send it.  Someone might be able to read it, but DMV will never get it.

So falling back on days of old, I sat down and typed them a letter and will mail it out today.  It contained no humor or sarcasm as I'm sure they would not be amused, and might even round file it.  I decided not to go to the post office to send it registered because then they would lose it for sure.

I haven't been pulled over for years and years, but you know how your dogma gets run over by your karma.  

Sir, your license is expired.

Well officer, I know it looks that way, but if you've got about a half hour, I'll tell you my side of it.  

  

[hubcapsc]

Sir, your license is expired.

That's not so bad. What you really don't want to hear,
at 11pm with a flashlight shining in your face, is:

Sir, your license has been revoked.

-Mike

[Serk]

Gotta love government bureaucracy...

[hubcapsc]

Gotta love government bureaucracy...

I'll have to follow up on that... my revoked license experience was
because I changed insurance companies. In South Carolina, it is the
law that an insurance company must inform the DMV when you drop
your insurance. There is no law that requires insurance companies
to inform the DMV when you obtain insurance. Got me a cop car ride,
cuffed in the back seat. 

-Mike "I should have punched the officer and made a run for it?"

[old2soon]

      Last Friday-22 Jan-I had to stop at the D M V office here in Willow Springs. When I first pulled into their lot I could observe no cars in the parking lot. WTF over? But I did observe employee cars in the back lot. Kewl.  I walked in and there was No One except the employee's in the office! Sat down and finished my business toot suite. Back when I applied for a Missouri tags and title for that trailer I bought from John in Wisconsin there were 2 people ahead of me and took bout 11 or 12 minutes total. Jess-mentioned this before but we have room for level headed folks here in the ShoMe. Save ya a Bunch of bucks on livin expenses.
      Git daprez to tell ya how damn MUCH his M/C trailer tag went up there in another bastion of high taxes and crooked politicians. a k a illinois.  RIDE SAFE.

[Jess from VA]

And, for the final act in this little traji-comedy, the mail lady picked up my letter to DMV (about not getting my renewed license), and delivered my new drivers license today.  (no postmark) 

Talk about goofy Karma.    

And while they only offered 2yr extensions on-line, I inexplicably got an 8yr extension.  (so I hope to live at least that long to get my money's worth)

I'm not writing them another letter.  Let them worry about it for awhile; 'cause fair is fair.  

[Serk]

Prediction:

They'll get your letter, figure that means your current license never to you, so they'll cancel it, but not tell you about it.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Prediction:

They'll get your letter, figure that means your current license never to you, so they'll cancel it, but not tell you about it.

exactly ! Clearly Jess has enmeshed himself in a "Catch 22" with the government. 

[3fan4life]

Virginia's DMV is a Royal PITA to deal with.

I avoid going to the office like the plague.

I have had to go twice during this Covid BS, once to register a vehicle (can't be done online) and to renew my DL.

I opted for the new REAL ID and brought in the ton of required paperwork, none of which a person actually has in the 21st Century, like a phone bill for a landline phone (they won't accept a cell phone bill).

Come to think of it, you probably still have that but we all know you're not the average person. 

Anyway, once you actually get to the appointment things aren't as bad as they used to be.

The DMV agents still don't have a sense of humor but they do smile once in awhile.

BTW, You had an automatic 60 day extension of your DL, Governor Northam decreed that.

Even though I went to the office I had to wait for my new DL to come in the mail, it showed up in about a week.

[Jess from VA]

Prediction:

They'll get your letter, figure that means your current license never to you, so they'll cancel it, but not tell you about it.

Yeah, I already thought about that.  I'm hoping I get an email inquiry before anything else.  They can email me, I just can't respond/reply. (similar to marriage   )   

[Jess from VA]

BTW, You had an automatic 60 day extension of your DL, Governor Northam decreed that.

Thanks Mark, I hadn't heard that.

[hubcapsc]

I opted for the new REAL ID and brought in the ton of required paperwork, none of which a person actually has in the 21st Century, like a phone bill for a landline phone (they won't accept a cell phone bill).

In South Carolina, maybe anywhere, they won't accept your real
birth certificate, the one with your footprints on it.

-Mike

[carolinarider09]

Well, I have to renew mine some time this year. 

I will not opt for the Real ID, just to much information going to another govemrent agency that may or may not handled it appropriately. 

I have a valid passport so, if I need to get into a federal building, board an airplane, I will use that. 

Funny thing, after October sometime you will have to have a "Real ID" to enter a federal building, right?  But to vote in a federal election, all you need is a simple signature. 

[scooperhsd]

Well, I have to renew mine some time this year.  

I will not opt for the Real ID, just to much information going to another govemrent agency that may or may not handled it appropriately.  

I have a valid passport so, if I need to get into a federal building, board an airplane, I will use that.  

Funny thing, after October sometime you will have to have a "Real ID" to enter a federal building, right?  But to vote in a federal election, all you need is a simple signature.  

Depends on the state. In Kansas, we had to show a picture ID to vote in person.

[0leman]

Jess, in January, last year, we paid off one of our vehicles.  Got the paper work from the loan company and started the effort to get our title changed.   Called the number for the DMV as local office was closed.   Had a big cup of coffee and laptop in front of me while I waited.  Finally got to speak to a human, female type.  After listening to my story she told me to go get XXX Form and send in the title and money.  She actually had a sense of humor even though it was late in the day.

So I pulled up the form, found I could fill it out on line (my handwriting is terrible and hard to read), printed it out, wrote out a check, and headed to the post office to send it in certified.   Waited 4 weeks for it to come back.  Finally 5 week after I sent it in, got mail back.  Seems in my questionable check writing, I had failed to sign it.  So signed the check and sent it back it.  Finally got the Title in May. 

Should have taken a hour in the DMV local office and two weeks to get the title.   

OR is behind in getting the "Real ID" out.  Hopefully when it does my passport will be adequate information for it.  That is when ever the local office opens for us normal folks. 

[Jess from VA]

O-man, it's amazing how few Gs and businesses take unsigned checks.