We are not completely heartless.

[Reyneth]

The main thing I hate about my DMV is that they have done away with the numbered tickets. Now there are two lines that you get in depending on why you are there. I miss my time sitting and reading or knitting! Now you have to stand and wait. No cell phones/texting allowed either!

[Imprl59]

That poor lady! You have to wonder why on earth her daughter was thinking.

Our DMV offices here in Florida are pretty great. I've never had to wait for more than an hour and often walk right up to a window.

Someone earlier posted taht they didn't even have a birth certificate. For any of you in the same situation be aware that there is a new federal rule that you can't renew your drivers license without a birth certificate, social security card and two letters that were sent to your address. Not all states haved adopted it yet but they will eventually. We were one of the first to adopt it and people havent stopped whining about it yet.

[Merriweather]

Wouldn't they not have noticed if you skipped the first marriage certificate and divorce decree?

Nope, had to have those because I didn't go back to maiden name after divorce from ex (easier to keep it and have same name as my daughter). So second marriage license had my last name as ex's, not as on birth certficate. Had to have those to show how I got to that point.

[KabeRinnaul]

But I really do feel sorry for the DMV clerks who have deal with all the people so totally frustrated by the assinine and illogical rules - wouldn't it be nice if anyone in government who is responsible or supports implementing a policy or rule had to spend a week dealing personally with the people it affects

Why restrict that to government? Some recent changes from corporate could really have used a front-line point of view before being put in place...

[Magpie]

See, I can understand that woman, for some reason, thinking that if she can walk at all she has to be the one to get the permit. I cannot understand her daughter letting her go on her own, instead of walking her in to help her out. Even if you were the heartless beasts she clearly thought you were, I fail to see how that would have been a problem.

Then I was told that because the last name on my current driver's license wasn't the one I was born with, I had to bring in documents to confirm the entire chain of name changes from birth to now: Birth certificate with maiden name; marriage license to prove last name change from maiden to ex's name. Divorce decree to prove I wasn't still married to ex; current marriage license to prove name change from ex's to current hubby, as on my driver's license.

Wouldn't they not have noticed if you skipped the first marriage certificate and divorce decree?

[Swordsman422]

I have to say I have never had anything but cheery, excellent service at the DMV (except a frighteningly brief and atrociously incomplete driving test delivered by a police officer who had put a passed stamp on it the moment I started the car).

It never ceases to amaze me that when you are able to help someone out, if it isn't their way it is still unnacceptable.

[Mnemjian]

I agree that the people who complain the loudest are usually just the ones who got told "NO". And we all know, to a SC, no = rude Working at the DMV really must be a tough job. There are rules that can't be broken, and I bet there's more SC's there than you can shake a stick at. A BIG stick.

[Stryker One]

I never had an issue with the DMV employees being assh*les, it just usually takes forever to get anything done there.

[Merriweather]

I'm glad I didn't have that restriction when I got my license. I don't have a birth certificate and never have.

I think DMV workers get a bad rap.

I try to be as nice as I can to DMV workers - it isn't their fault the state has such assinine rules

When we moved to our state, I called first to see what I needed to bring to get my license. Old license from other state, birth certificate, ok, pretty standard.

Then I was told that because the last name on my current driver's license wasn't the one I was born with, I had to bring in documents to confirm the entire chain of name changes from birth to now: Birth certificate with maiden name; marriage license to prove last name change from maiden to ex's name. Divorce decree to prove I wasn't still married to ex; current marriage license to prove name change from ex's to current hubby, as on my driver's license.

Of course, after scrambling to find all those documents, all they actually asked for was the birth certificate. But I'm told they "could have" asked for the others.

I do think that's overkill, never, from any state or even military have I had to have all those documents to prove who I am. But it gets worse. Ok, the state clearly says the reason for birth certificates, etc. is they want to crack down on illegal aliens (views on which I won't discuss), and once you prove that you are a citizen or legal resident, whichever you are is shown on your driver's license. Ok, logical at least. BUT, should you ever have to go to the DMV for anything else, even though you have proved your status and had it duly noted on your license, you STILL have to bring in all the documents you brought in to get the license.

Ok, I can see if your license says legal resident, you have to prove you still are, cause that is a changeable status. But if you're a citizen, that doesn't have an expiration date And if you don't trust your own license that you gave me after I showed you all my documents, why would you trust those same documents next time? Cmon, at least pretend to have some logic somewhere (oh, yeah, we're talking about government, agencies never mind).

But I really do feel sorry for the DMV clerks who have deal with all the people so totally frustrated by the assinine and illogical rules - wouldn't it be nice if anyone in government who is responsible or supports implementing a policy or rule had to spend a week dealing personally with the people it affects

[seigus]

In my job I work with DMV employees, and the reputation for them being heartless generally comes from people who want what they can't have (reinstatement of license revoked due to DWI, license without proper ID, waived suspensions, etc.). Yes, it IS the employee's fault you were caught driving drunk! Yes, it's completely unreasonable for them to not risk their job to put a dangerous driver back out on the streets! Yes, they ARE taking food from the mouths of your children! What horrible people!

[Grape The Cat]

I think DMV workers get a bad rap. They were able to handle my dorky, nervous self politely and efficiently. I agree with Sparky, the SCs in these examples were twits.

[Mondestrucken]

I'm very lucky. At my office, 99.99% of the customers are polite, and at least half are actively nice. Also, the clerks here are friendly and fast, and people tend to be reasonable if they see you are trying to take care of them.

But you know SC's. Nothing appeases the full strength of their suck.

[chainedbarista]

i'm glad i can renew my stuff by mail/online; when i went in to get my son his id, i'd forgotten the whole birth certificate issue...i didn't throw a fit, just felt stupid for not thinking about it.

as for the woman, what in the nine levels of hell was she not thinking? mom just gets out of surgery and she makes her get the permit...wtf, you moron!

[Andara Bledin]

1. Young girl comes in with her father to get her permit. For a first time permit, license, or ID card, we must see an original birth certificate. No exceptions.

I'm glad I didn't have that restriction when I got my license. I don't have a birth certificate and never have.

Then again, except for the long wait times, I've never had any problems at the DMV. It's always been: get their, get my number, wait, watch the idiots around me, wait, read some, wait, get called, get my stuff taken care of, and I'm off.

Oh, hey, that reminds me. My license expired on Sunday. I should get that dealt with. >_<

^-.-^

[Sparky]

Motor vehicle department employees have the reputation for being awful, but I have always found them to be patient, friendly and helpful.

Once I went in to take care of about three different transactions, one of which was unusual and complicated. It was the office's first day with a new computer system. It took forever, but the clerk was patient and polite the whole time.

Both sets of your SC's were twits.