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06/26/2007: "Almost Painless"
There are those statements you hear in life that make your blood run cold ...
"Honey ... I'm late"
"Lemme give you a sweet deal on this used car."
"I'm sorry - you have to renew your drivers license in person."
Today, I got to experience the last of those - I had to visit the California Department of Motor Vehicles - the dreaded DMV.
The last few times I had to renew my driver's license, I was given the option to do so by mail. In fact, the last time I actually had to visit the DMV was 15 years ago, when I had to go there to get my license reissued after some stupid behavior (a story for a different time). Since then, I've been able to avoid the process.
No place other than the Post Office has a worse reputation for customer service - or lack thereof - than the DMV, so when I got the notice telling me this time I had to appear in person, I wasn't happy. I stalled as long as I could but, with my birthday - and the expiration of my current license - coming next week, I had no choice but bite the bullet and take my medicine.
The first indication that the process might be better than expected was the ability to find the closest DMV branch online and make an appointment over the internet. I got a nice confirmation email with all the information I needed to find the place. Heading in this afternoon, I arrived at 2:30 for my 2:50 appointment. I expected to find a crowd, and I wasn't disappointed - but there was a sense of ... order ... about it all. Yes, there were a lot of people, but they were being efficiently dealt with. Each customer first went to a central desk where they were assigned a ticket number, then asked to wait for their ticket to be called. In the background, a computerized voice would notify you that "Ticket so-and-so can now be served at Window whatever" - and they had TV screens displaying the same info much like the arrival and departure screens at your favorite airport. Even though this is a small DMV branch, there were 35 windows to help customers.
My number was called in about 10 minutes, and I made my way to the assigned window. I paid my fee ($27 for a five-year license - Cal Fish and Game has a lot to learn from these guys), proved I could see, and received my temporary license. I was directed to a second window where, after a short wait, I provided my signature and thumbprint (both electronic) and had my picture taken. I was out on the stree and on my way by 2:48 - before my actual appointment time even arrived!
I'm pretty quick to criticize stupidity, but I have to credit the folks behind the DMV - they have to deal with the lowest common denominator of society (read: stupid people), yet have found an efficient and quick system to process everyone through.
It makes a fellow proud to pay his taxes ... 
