Summer Time and they come out in droves

[Mondestrucken]

Ms. On the Road Again (Motra)

Motra comes into our office to renew her driver's license. Now in our state (true for most states, but still have some variation from state to state), you must have what we call Legal Presence. This means that either you are a US citizen and can prove it, or you can furnish us with proof that you are legally in the US. If you have a Limited Legal Presence (say your visa is only good for 2 years), then your driver's license will expire the exact same day your visa does. Also, we are unbearably busy right now. So busy that the line at times is literally out the door, and we are stressed to the max.

Motra's Visa expired in June, as did her license. She wants us to renew her license even though she has not renewed her Visa. You see, she had been very busy and she had turned in her application to renew her Visa - one month late. She is also waving around a copy of the Federal register, saying that we have to grant her a 40 day extension per Federal law. Um, no. The Federal law says that they have to allow you to continue to work for 40 days while your application is pending. Nothing says that applies to your driving privileges.

She rolls her eyes at me. Everyone knows that you have to able to drive in order to work! Really? That is going to be news to those people who work and have never had a license.

She starts talking about her lawyer: yada, yada, yada, her lawyer, yada, yada, court case, sue. I have heard this spiel before, and quite frankly, it doesn't mean a thing for me. She does ask for her case number, and I go onto the computer to look up the case we just opened on her. That is when I look up at her: "You have been a busy person today, haven't you?" My office is the fourth one she has bothered today. Every one has given her the same answer. Every one has opened an Immigration case on her (which, by the way, costs the state money). Four offices, and in my office, she has spent an hour arguing with 3 clerks before she got to me. So let's assume that was the standard. That means that 4 hours in 4 different offices was wasted arguing with her, and on a day when I don't have even 5 minutes to waste. I told her to pick an office and stick to it. "So, is anyone going to call me if I have been approved?" she whined. Well, I'm not going to. Go to the place you started at. That's the one that will have approval first since they submitted first. Wait 24 hours until you go there.

She hasn't been back.

[Monterey Jack]

Ms. On the Road Again (Motra)

For a second, I thought that read "MOTHRA".

[Mondestrucken]

That's why I used Motra. Only Mothra is more attractive.

[Argabarga]

*Imagines Mothra being unable to attack Tokyo, due to her visa expiring*

[sms001]

I can see trying to work different locations in retail - you may (and often do) find a manager or whatever who will cave on something relatively insignificant like a return policy. But doing it with state offices in hopes of getting a law broken? What's that old definition of insanity again?

It's a shame that you can't (as so many corporations are tending to) immediately shut someone down and refer them to the legal department when they lawyer up on you like that. If the first office could have done that (and I have no doubt she pulled the stunt there, too) you wouldn't have had her in your face at all.

Slightly off-topic: are there busy/slow 'seasons' for DMV/DoRs, etc.? Or was the busyness lately just something that comes and goes?

[nutraxfornerves]

I can see trying to work different locations in retail - you may (and often do) find a manager or whatever who will cave on something relatively insignificant like a return policy. But doing it with state offices in hopes of getting a law broken? What's that old definition of insanity again?

I retired from a government agency. I was the designated person to whom the phone answerers would send the seriously SCs. I was also the person who got the really obscure or incomprehensible questions.

I often felt I could make a fortune with a book called How to Fight City Hall. Every government agency has someone like me tucked away somewhere. The person who knows some obscure regulation that just might solve your problem in an unexpected way. The person who knows a guy in another office "who owes me one." I can't break laws, but if you are really nice, I'm willing to help you be creative. (To make something up for this thread--maybe there is a law that says you can get a temporary license if your embassy says that as a sideline, you are a volunteer driver for your ambassador.) Be nice & I'll research the hell out of your situation. It always felt good when I could tell some frightened sweet old lady that very few people knew that she could legally do X for a temporary fix. Even if I had had to turn down the homemade cookies.

Yell at me, make suggestions about my parentage, and suggest impossible sexual practices and you will get the official line. "Sorry. It can't be done."

[Mondestrucken]

In my state, summer is far and away the busy season. Teenagers are out of school and come in droves to get their permits. We also title and register boats in addition to cars, and with all the lakes we have, boats are a big chunk of business. Mopeds and motorcycles are registered for the whole year, but people are more likely to buy and renew the registrations in the summer.

I hate summer.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

*Imagines Mothra being unable to attack Tokyo, due to her visa expiring*

And in the meanwhile, Godzilla will burn down Tokyo with his extremely bad breath . . .

I read that as Mothra too, needless to say.

But really, she filed to renew her visa a month late and that's Immigration's problem how??? And running to every office she can is not going to change the fact that it is HER problem and she has to wait her turn like everybody else under the sun.

Impatient cow.

[Ironclad Alibi]

Every government agency has someone like me tucked away somewhere. The person who knows some obscure regulation that just might solve your problem in an unexpected way.

That reminds of the insurance office scene in The Incredibles.

[Captain Trips]

.. she filed to renew her visa a month late and that's Immigration's problem how??? And running to every office she can is not going to change the fact that it is HER problem and she has to wait her turn like everybody else under the sun..

Worse - she wants it to be DMV's problem, too!

Just another fine example of "a failure to plan on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine."

[DGoddessChardonnay]

Worse - she wants it to be DMV's problem, too!

Just another fine example of "a failure to plan on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine."

I don't think that kind of scenario would fly here in NC - the folks at my local DMV office don't take shit from anyone! If your paperwork's not in order, too bad so sad - come back when you do have it all straight.

There's a reason why my closest DMV office is located inside a Highway Patrol station.