California DMV had me re-do my picture after only having the license 10 years or so. Only in my case, they decided I needed to take my glasses off. Without them, I am completely blind and I cannot focus one eye. The resulting picture clearly reflects this. I’d be scared to think that squinty, looking-in-the-wrong-direction human was driving a car.

I am surprised they allowed you to sit in line. It seems they have rules and rules in the DMV these days. I’d have to bring a porta-stool.

Sounds like it went smoothly:)Hugs Darcy

That went rather smoothly for you. Last time I went to the DMV, armed with my knitting, I was immediately called and didn’t even have a chance to knit a few stitches!
Ask me during the next ice storm if I would rather have a traffic jam in California or icy roads in Vermont..lol.

That last time my license was up for renewal I simply went to the local AAA office. I can’t tell you how awesome this benefit is!! It takes some pressure off DMV (and the state just closed two more satellite offices as of January to save money, which means even longer lines) and it just about eliminated any wait I had. I can’t remember, but I think I got the license in the mail afterwards… but maybe I got it right there? Either way, AAA does the eye test and the photo and takes the check, and it was a short drive (rather than almost an hour) and no hassle at all. I think even if we didn’t use AAA for anything else at all, that benefit would be worth it! ESPECIALLY since I do these errands with small children, of course!

The final score: Alison 1, bureaucracy 0.

Wouldn’t it be interesting if we could publish reviews on governmental offices, as they do on restaurants? Citizens could look them up online, and decide which branch office had the best rating.
It would be a “reward”, a morale booster for those who got good ratings.

I’m glad you didn’t have to wait as long as you feared, and glad too that you met a gentleman while you waited.

I can just see you “plunking down on the floor” and even worse, trying to get up. Sorry for giggling–I know it isn’t funny.

For most State Govs, getting the DMV right is the highest thing for having your citizens be satisfied, since it is one of the most used services. Seriously, lot’s and lot’s is written about how to get it to work better, but you wouldn’t know it, I know!

Government. “hurry up and wait. Oh, and we don’t know why we want you to wait. Just do it” Argh….

Sherry, hey, go ahead and giggle. I not only plunked, I scooted forward on my rear and pushed my cane forward on the floor rather than getting up each time someone left the line. While wearing a long (and thankfully black) skirt. Who was it that was teasing me about sweeping all the time?

I’m glad the wait was bearably short. Hope springs eternal and wonders never cease! 🙂

Sorry, but I need my daily Alison fix. And hey, some of those DMV locations are centered over black holes. Let me tell ya.

Oh, that’s funny. Especially because there was an overhead electronic board stating what the current appointment and no-appointment line times were at the San Jose and Santa Teresa offices. I’ve lived here since early ’87 and I have no idea where any Santa Teresa (street name? Town name?) is. Black hole indeed.

Note that the appointment idea seems only to have been to get people to self-segregate into slow or fast lines; I don’t think they ever checked, and clearly, they were perfectly happy to have people with appointments there show up elsewhere and get into the appointment lines, judging by that board.

Ah, yes. The joys of lines and offices and appointments. 🙂