Self-service DMV
Lawmakers gave the agency $2 million to set up self-service kiosks in as many as 20 DMV offices.
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Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Copyright � Las Vegas Review-Journal
EDITORIAL: Self-serve DMV
One completely unsurprising consequence of Nevada's rapid growth is the lengthy wait residents experience at the Department of Motor Vehicles when they want to obtain driver's licenses or register their cars. For the most part, state lawmakers and administrators have dealt with delays by building more offices and hiring additional employees; in recent years, the DMV has established a useful Web site that allows motorists to complete many transactions online.
But there are other ways to improve DMV service without adding to the ranks of the bureaucracy. This year's Legislature funded a technological experiment that offers much promise. Lawmakers gave the agency $2 million to set up self-service kiosks in as many as 20 DMV offices. When fully functional, these kiosks will allow motorists to renew driver's licenses, register vehicles and perform records searches within a matter of minutes ... without the necessity of dealing with a DMV employee.
The first kiosk is being tested at the office on West Carey Avenue in Las Vegas, and despite a few remaining glitches, the kiosks are expected to offer seamless transactions at a fraction of the time it typically takes to deal with department workers. The machines accept cash and credit cards and will deliver registration documents and license stickers on the spot; it's no longer necessary to wait for paperwork to be mailed.
Once the bugs are worked out, this experiment should be replicated at DMV offices throughout the state. It offers an opportunity to improve customer service without expanding the state payroll (and perhaps even reducing it) ... which will always be a good deal for Nevadans.
Posted by Craig at October 22, 2003 02:37 PM