Comments on: moving: the curse continues

By: moving: yep, still cursed « Seven angels, four kids, one family

moving: yep, still cursed « Seven angels, four kids, one family — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:54:03 +0000

[...] still cursed September 2, 2008 Posted by philangelus in sarcasm. trackback This move is the transaction that never ends. We closed on the house 7/24, and it’s now 9/2 and things are still in [...]

By: Shadowfax becomes a number « Seven angels, four kids, one family

Shadowfax becomes a number « Seven angels, four kids, one family — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 11:16:13 +0000

[...] a few reasonable compressions of Shadowfax to six letters, and they’re taken. Combined with the bureaucratic overhead of the DMV, the end result is that the car formerly known as Shadowfax, the magic horse, is now a meaningless [...]

By: cathrl

cathrl — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:03:15 +0000

No lines here. You’re required to apply by post for a driver’s license, and the plates are associated with the car.

By: CricketB

CricketB — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:56:41 +0000

Cursed is right! Any bets on how many mailing lists already have the wrong address?

When we moved, the person named on the utility bill had to make the phone call. By the end, I was very tempted to give any male voice the account number and have them to it. Husband was very good about saying, “While we’re at it, let’s put wife’s name on it as well.”

On the other hand, it did weed out telemarketers — most of them would be for husband, and they wouldn’t leave a message for him.

Okay, why two different lines? Here the same clerk does everything. If you need a photo, the clerk goes to the machine (and points you to your side of it), does it, and goes back to the desk. You prove your identity once, write one cheque. If it’s a straight renewal and your picture’s not too old, you can even do it by mail or online. The car exhaust testers send the results directly to the DMV. You only need eye tests for the first license and when you pass 80. (I get a kick out of the DMV franchise near the cottage — same building as the eye doctor.)

By: philangelus

philangelus — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:26:19 +0000

Good gravy, we just realized they spelled the name of my street wrong.

It’s a normal, ordinary noun, like “Spoon” and they did the equivalent of spelling it “Poon.” We’re definitely cursed.

By: philangelus

philangelus — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:11:42 +0000

Upstate NY was like that too. But Manhattan was awful when I went to get my license. I read all of “The Screwtape Letters” while standing in line the first day.

By: Ivy

Ivy — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:01:45 +0000

Registration comes with the car in New York, but when I went to get new plates when they did the weird Empire plates turnover, the website said, “Bring proof of ownership, driver’s license, and one other form of ID from the list below. Cash, cashier’s checks, and major credit card accepted.” I went with my title, my license, my social security card, and a Mastercard. Fifteen minutes later the woman behind the counter handed me my shiny new plates with a smile and said, “Thank you and have a nice day.”

Last time I went to renew my license, they just drove us like a herd through the mill.

Station 1. Vision test. Read the line indicated and move along.

Station 2. Photo. Take a picture and move along.

Station 3. Pay and get the temporary license. So what if you’re renewing three months early. You’re entitled to a temporary and here it is.

Payment methods were listed on the website, and on a huge sign as you walk in. Mind you this means you have to take the eye exam to get a non-driver’s ID (blind pedestrians just get “failed eye exam” written on their paper and they’re sent along with the rest), but the whole process was ten minutes from walking in the door to walking out again.

I guess I’ve been to the good DMVs in New York.