Fun at the DMV

You know, we all bitch and moan about the employees at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

But.  Really.  Think about the people that GO to the DMV.  You have to be a little bent, I think, to deal with the public on that level every working day of your life. 

I had to go to the DMV today, to renew a license (I wanted a new photo) and thus I had to submit myself to the perils of government employees, and my fellow Brooklynites.  I went prepared.  I bought a book, a bottle of water, my Blackberry, a banana and a lot of patience. 

I left with a bit more tolerance for the DMV folk.  Yes, there was one woman who was the devil herself, and hollered to all and sundry for such trivial offenses as stepping over the yellow line without permission, but there were an ordinate amount of fruit loops there.  The crazy train does indeed stop at the Coney Island DMV.  To wit:

·        One guy, when asked to step back for his photo, turned AROUND to face the white partition instead of facing the camera.

·        One girl who needed a photo taken asked if her boyfriend could be in the photo too.  This made the photo lady scream "get back behind the yellow line!!!"

·         I overheard a group of people studying for their written exam.  One guy said; “Wait, so if I have 6 drinks, I have to wait 6 hours to drive?  That's bullshit!”

·         Another guy, who was incensed at how long he had been forced to wait, kept staring up at the large electronic board and hurling insults at the numbers displayed (who all represented waiting customers, for example, I was number E915) – he’d say things like “What the hell is B203 about? What is taking D394 such a long time?  When the hell is E903 going to be finished?”

·         There was a woman who had one of those small traveling pet cases, and she had a ferret.  She, and her pet, were met with some degree of disgust by the denizens of the DMV today, to which she replied; “I never go anywhere without him!”

Plus, at least 30 percent of the people there to get licenses, or permits, or whatever, did not speak a word of English, and still had to be dealt with.

And, my friends, I was only there for about two hours. Imagine what goes on in a day. So.  The next time you’re tempted to lose your temper with the DMV folk, think about the F’ING LUNATICS that they have to deal with on a regular basis, and have some sympathy.

Comments

[scribbler]

I went to the Hudson DMV on Monday. It was lovely. Holly & I lived in DC for 3 + years. NOTHING can top the DC DMV. it sets the bar for all other DMV's. They had bullet-proof glass EVERYWHERE. I know WHY they have it everywhere!

[Matt Berry]

Ummmm, the METS clinched the NL East for the first time in 18 years and you haven't even mentioned it yet??? You must be really busy these days. They should've sent you to the back of the line.....with the Yankee fans.

[Liz]

You know, I've just been wondering how to celebrate that...I thought I'd wait till the pennant was in hand, perhaps...

Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled. I'm just still understandably cautious.