Governor Brown Announces an Audit of the DMV Amid Skyrocketing Wait Times at the Agency’s Offices

On September 21 of this year, the Sacramento Bee reported that Governor Jerry Brown directed the DMV to undergo an audit. The governor’s directive placed the task of handling the audit, which will focus on extremely long wait times and outdated technology, with the Department of Finance instead of the State Auditor. The audit comes on the heels of an explosion in wait times at the DMV, with some Californians at certain field offices having to wait multiple hours to receive service.

While this issue might not seem like a “big deal” to some, the problem of excessively long wait times at a DMV office is far from a trivial matter. For many working people in California, including the state’s poor and undocumented immigrants, waiting multiple hours at the DMV means taking multiple hours off from work which, in turn, means multiple hours for which they’re not getting paid wages, putting even greater financial strain on these vulnerable families. While many of the people in the recent news reports simply sought to obtain or renew their licenses, others face different problems from the DMV, such as a license suspension. If your DMV issues require the utilization of the legal system, be sure to contact a knowledgeable San Francisco DMV defense attorney about your situation.

Back in early September, the New York Times reported on the frustrating conditions at certain DMV offices. At the Hollywood office, the wait time to renew a driver’s license approached two hours, according to the report. In an NBC Bay Area report, one woman told the source that it took her five hours to get a driver’s license at the South San Jose office. Some Bay Area patrons reported waiting two hours even with an appointment, according to NBC. Patrons in Hollywood told the Times that there was a six-week wait to get an appointment at the DMV, which is why many people showed up without an appointment

The DMV has taken steps to try to alleviate the problem. Some offices open earlier now and also hold Saturday hours. Some branches have also opened self-service kiosks for people seeking basic services like renewal of their driver’s licenses, according to the Times.

Part of the problem, according to the Bee report, is the outdated technology infrastructure that the DMV uses. Even here in 2018, many DMV patrons witness workers using computers with green-and-black monitors and a DOS-based operating system. The Bee report stated that the DMV acknowledged its computer system was “a 40-year-old dinosaur.” The governor’s call for an audit by the Department of Finance came one day after a connectivity problem caused a major outage at the DMV. According to the Bee, all customer transactions at 68 different DMV sites were stopped by the problem occurring on the morning of Sept. 20, leaving those offices paralyzed for hours.

Without question, the hope of many Californians is that the audit that is to come will yield positive changes that will help people at the DMV get the service they need in a reasonable period of time. There are many types of interactions with the DMV that can be stressful and frustrating. Certainly, having to take half a day or all day off from work just to renew a driver’s license is one. Undeniably, facing a potential license suspension is another. If your DMV situation requires legal assistance, reach out to the skilled the San Francisco DMV defense professionals at Uthman Law Office right away. Attorney David Uthman has over 20 years of experience as a litigation attorney and almost a decade of experience as a police officer. We know the law and we know the system, and we know how to use them to get results for you. Call us today at (415) 556-9200 to schedule your FREE initial consultation to get the help you need.

More blog posts:

California’s Negligent Operator Treatment System, and What You Can Do if the DMV Suspends Your License, San Francisco Criminal Lawyer Blog, Sept. 7, 2018

The Risks You Take When You Handle Your DMV Driver’s License Suspension Case On Your Own Without a San Francisco Attorney, San Francisco Criminal Lawyer Blog, Feb. 16, 2018