Well, I'm temporarily fucked. Thanks, Texas!

[jmowreader]

I got my commercial drivers license in Texas. Texas uses centralized license issuance--instead of having a license printer in the DMV office (all right, Department of Public Safety office) they issue the driver a Temporary Permit that's valid until he or she receives the permanent license. This permit is good for 60 days or until your license comes in, whichever comes first. When I got it, I asked what happens if the license wasn't there by the expiration date. "Oh, don't worry. It will be. It only takes three weeks to get your license in the mail."

The next day Texas' drivers license computer was shut down by a virus. And once it came back, they decided to implement their plan to suspend issuance of drivers licenses while they redesigned the Texas drivers license format...they're finally finished and this is what it looks like:



I think it's nice. Unfortunately, the 60 days have now passed and I don't have it, which means I'm not able to drive or to change over to a North Carolina license, and I'm fucked.

[Lars39]

1. Go get in somebody's face over this...you shouldn't be penalized

for their screw-up.

[jmowreader]

4. I feel slightly sorry for the local-office DPS employees

I think they're a really good government agency...except for this driver's license screwup they really do a nice job. They're friendly and efficient, willing to help and are actually NICE! (Yes, I am referring to the DMV.) My only wish is that some other state's DMV would go to Texas and steal all the local DMV office employees away. They deserve better than Texas.

And I assume that when the centralized issuance system works, it works okay. But I've called down there a few times asking when the system was going to be on line again...you can tell by the tone of their voice that they really want the disaster to be over not because they're tired of getting harassed but because they want you to have your driver's license. I asked why they took the old system off line before bringing up the new one, and you can definitely tell they know as little about it as the rest of us.

The people whose shit you'd have to jump are in a walled-off compound in Austin. You'll never get to them. I could scream at the local office employees, but it would do no good at all. They're completely out of control of this situation, and I figure they're already getting enough abuse as it is.

[Lars39]

11. It would be horrible to be stuck in the middle like that.

I wonder how far you'd get writing certified letters. I hope you can get it resolved soon.

[WolverineDG]

18. So Texans deserve shitty DMV folks? Screw you. nt

[jmowreader]

22. No...

if Texas could manage to find this batch of DMV folks, I'm certain they can find new ones that are just as good.

Or better: offer to recruit and train DMV staff for other states. That way those of us in non-Texan states can have good DMV officers, and you can keep the ones you have.

[mainegreen]

2. Can't you get a new temp?

If not, I'd drive anyways.

[jmowreader]

5. Okay...once more with feeling...this is a COMMERCIAL drivers license

Driving a car is no problem. I have a sheet of paper I printed from the DPS website that says I can drive a car using this permit until my hardcopy license arrives, even if it's past its expiration date. So long as the five years the license is good for hasn't passed, I'm fine. The only way I can get a new temp, which we were going to do, is to stop at a DPS office. They can't issue new temps by mail. Unfortunately, the last time I was under a load heading to Texas we got repowered into a load going to Ohio and never made it back to Texas. So if I need some milk, no problem. I'm legal to do that.

But according to DOT regulations, the only valid CDL is one where the "expiration" date has not yet passed. I am currently there, and currently screwed.

[datasuspect]

3. call the DPS office in austin

get a letter of clearance.

it shows that you have a license, just not the card yet.

this helped me beat a driving without a license charge in illinois. the NC dmv should be able to accept it. or maybe not.

[jmowreader]

7. The NC DMV won't accept it. I asked.

Last Friday, I came back from Van Buren, got all prettied up to get my CDL picture taken, and immediately went to the DMV. The only acceptable document that can be used in a CDL exchange is a CDL with a photo on it issued by another state. (It could be worse: if you're transferring an operator's license from another state, you have to take the written test again. That's not necessary with a CDL because the written tests are uniform between states by federal law.) If you have a "temporary permit," so far as NC is concerned you've only got a learner's permit.

[datasuspect]

10. well

you can drive with the expired texas temporary license (if possible with your job).

just carry a bond card or 100-500 dollars on you in case you get pulled over, sometimes they can take you to jail for driving without the actual license card.

[jmowreader]

12. That's not possible, DOT regulations forbid it

"No carrier shall require or permit a driver with an expired Commercial Drivers License to operate a Commercial Motor Vehicle." As far as they're concerned, the "expiration date" on this temporary permit makes it invalid.

[datasuspect]

13. yes, but it doesn't make your texas CDL invalid

which, even though you don't have the actual card, you still have a license.

[Bucky]

6. You could print out this thread, change your name to Janice Sample, say you're from Austin...

and have plastic surgery and... wallah!... instant valid ID!!

[Richardo]

8. I'm not sure there's an 'Old Main Street' in Anytown, Texas.

It's just 'Main Street' :eyes:

[jmowreader]

9. That seems like a lot of work.

[zabet]

14. The NC DMV and DOT

are pains in the assess to deal with. Sorry.

[jmowreader]

16. I figured that out!

And you know what the sickest part of the whole thing is? I have to pay these assholes $150 for the privilege of being allowed to do my job.

Yup: $30 application fee, then $15 per year for the eight-year life of this license. And if I was stupid enough to have had any endorsements on the license, it would cost me another $24 per endorsement--$3 per year for the next eight years.

[zabet]

25. I dread every interaction I have to have with them.

NC gets you coming and going $-wise.

[Javaman]

15. Welcome to my world.

about 14 years ago, Texas had changed over finally to using computers to issue their new drivers licenses.

So mine had expired and I went to get my new one. I get this temporary piece of paper to act as a stand in until I get my real one within 60 days.

The first 60 days passed (yes, the first), and I didn't get anything. I started to get concerned around day 40, but after calling them the assured me that it was on it's way. Day 57, day 58, on day 59 I call them yet again and I ask them, "where is my license?" "who are you?", they respond. Ugh, I give them my info and guess what, I'm not in their computer!!! Arrrgggg, I wanted to squeeze the life out of the phone receiver hoping somehow that the person on the other end would feel pain.

I explained my situation and they asked me if I could come down and go through the whole process again. I said, "well, could you first ask miss so and so first, since she is the one I have been dealing with?"

The motor vehicle person sighs and said, "hang on". After waiting for 1 hour on the phone (I think she secretly believed I would give up and hang up, because...)she gets back on and says, "oh, you're still there". Kill many people came to my mind, patiently I responded, "yes, I am still here". "Well, miss so and so has left for the day..." before she could finish I said, "but it's only 2 in the afternoon!" She sputtered something and said, "I'll check again". Well lo and behold, miss so and so gets on the phone all apologetic, "I'm sorry this, I'm sorry that, I don't know how this could have happened. we will issue you another temporary license, we are having problems with the change over". Fine. whatever, just send it to me.

Now I must remind you that I live in Austin, Texas and at the time, real live music, the good stuff, not crappy ass college cover bands who all want to be Nirvana were rocking 6th street and me with out a photo ID not only couldn't get in, but couldn't be served beer! BEER!!!

So, one week goes by, second week goes by, I'm almost at the end of the 3rd week when I call again and get Miss so and so. She is completely amazed. She can't explain why I haven't gotten it yet. So she says (and I love when they say things like this)"I'll make it a high priority". Fine. I have been patient.

Week 4, week 5 pass by uneventfully. By this time my friends have given up on me and are now partying and drinking on 6th street and have forgotten completely about me.

Week 6 entails more phone calls back and forth. They lose my identity, they find it, the lose it, they find it. Finally with week 8 approaching, I have had it.

I call miss so and so and clearly stated, "I have been very patient, almost too patient. I never lost my temper, I never got angry, I have been a model citizen and this is how it's going to work. I'm leaving my home right now. I will be at the DMV in roughly 20 minutes, I fully expect to get my license and if I don't I will be calling the local news station to give them a fat story about this whole mess". (the DMV had been, up to this point, under investigation for some odd accounting problems, so the last thing they wanted was the media to get involved). Well wouldn't you know it, not only is my license there when I show up, but miss so and so, along with an inch thick folder regarding my little issue, is there to offer me a formal apology.

Have fun. I hope your experience is nothing like mine.

[old mark]

17. Oh, to be fucked in Texas.....

now that spring is here......


mark

[WolverineDG]

19. Well, if you went back to Texas in the meantime & didn't take the time to straighten it out

how is it Texas' fault? Sounds like your problem is with NC, not Texas.

dg

[jmowreader]

23. The problem was created at higher levels than the local DMV office

They're not issuing the form of license I need to take care of my transaction. This is Austin's doing, not Waxahachie's or North Carolina's.

[jobycom]

20. That sucks, but your picture is very cute. Where's Anytown?

[sonias]

21. I heard about the virus - Conficker worm

DPS computer network hit by virus - AAS 4/18/09

Sorry your license got caught up in that crap. I'm sure lots of others are in the same boat with you. The real culprits are the damn worm virus writers. A pox on their lonely pathetic little lives!

The problem with these offices is that the employees are underpaid and overworked. You need to deal with a supervisor. And you need to be aggressive about getting to talk to one. Don't let them put you on hold, tell them you've called before and if you don't get to talk to a supervisor you're going to the media next. And that's not a bad idea either. Find the local paper where the DPS office is and tell them that this snafu is about to cost you your job.

Good luck to you!

Sonia

[jmowreader]

24. The snafu isn't at the local office

Waxahachie said the state wasn't issuing the permanent licenses. They gave me a number to call in Austin. "Now, if you're going to get any results at all, this is who you need to talk to." They gave me the office of the director of the Commercial Licensing Branch! About the only way to give someone the number to a higher authority is to provide them with the number to Goodhair Perry's desk phone--and he would have had to send me back to the Commercial Licensing Branch.