Lawmakers To Question California DMV About Long Lines
SACRAMENTO (AP) — California lawmakers are seeking answers from the Department of Motor Vehicles about hourslong wait times that have prompted public outcry.
When Assemblyman Phil Ting visited a San Francisco DMV office in his district last month, he said the line snaking around the block looked more like a queue for rock concert tickets than for people trying to renew their licenses.
"I was shocked," the Democrat said. "What we've been hearing are horrific wait times of six or seven hours. That's unacceptable."
Ting will lead a hearing Tuesday to question DMV officials about what they are doing to reduce wait times.
Lawmakers have given the department millions of dollars in additional funding to accommodate higher demand as Californians update their licenses to comply with federally mandated security upgrades known as Real ID. The federal law was enacted in 2005 in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and requires new ID cards to carry special markings.
After Oct. 1, 2020, airport security checkpoints won't accept non-compliant cards. Californians must apply for new cards in person at DMV offices.
The agency expects to spend almost $70 million and hire more workers in the next two years to process the millions of people who need upgrades.
At the Tuesday hearing, Ting says he plans to ask DMV officials whether the money allotted to the system is enough and whether the DMV is making technical improvements to ensure the Real ID transition runs smoothly.
Assemblyman Phillip Chen is requesting an audit of the department and how it is handling the Real ID changes. The top complaint he's heard from his constituents recently is about the long wait times at DMV offices.
"We want to make sure we're not putting money into a broken system," the Diamond Bar Republican said.
The Joint Legislative Audit Committee will weigh Chen's audit request Wednesday.
UPDATE 11:15 a.m. - DMV Issues Response
"The DMV is bringing employees from various state agencies and departments to strengthen our hiring surge and help triage the longer lines at our offices," DMV Director Jean Shiomoto said in a written statement. "This year we have already hired 500 new employees, added Saturday service at 60 offices and opened offices an hour earlier in the most impacted areas. We expect the additional surge of employees will help further combat these wait times."
The agency also announced several solutions aimed at reducing wait times, including text notifications that would allow customers not to wait at a field office, expanding DMV Now self-service terminals and early office hours.
© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
