Driver’s license renewals are always a major problem here in South Florida. The system in person is abominably slow and inefficient. In 2006 I renewed my license online and had Chelsea send it to me in Washington. In 2009, Chelsea renewed hers online from Louisiana, picking it up when she returned home later that year. So I had no concerns about the fact that my license was due to be renewed on my birthday this year.
About a week ahead of time I logged on to the State of Florida website to get my renewal out of the way. After forcing me to go through the whole process, the site then gave me a message that I couldn’t renew online. The thought of having to go a local office filled me with despair. We’ve had several terrible experiences in recent years, especially when Chelsea and Alex got their driver’s licenses. We waited for seven hours or more, just to get the license. Even with appointments, the process often takes four to five hours.
I was most unhappy, so I logged on again and tried to make an appointment. No luck. I discovered the local office was closing in two days, the new office wouldn’t open for another month and was much farther away, and the next nearest office currently open was quite a distance away. I decided reluctantly to try my luck at the local office.
Back in 2005 a federal law was passed requiring additional proof of residence and proof of identity. The Florida law was then enacted to comply with the provisions of the Federal Real ID Act. In Florida, the law took effect this year, in January 2010. It’s now required, one time only, to show up in person and to provide proof of identity, such as passport or certified birth certificate; and a social security card or legal document proving it; and two forms of proof of residence such as bank statements or utility bills.
They did allow a “one-time convenience renewal online” which I’d apparently used up in 2006. There wasn’t much point in being upset; I just needed to tough it out and get it done. The stories I read in the paper weren’t encouraging. Up to fifty people were waiting in line by 7 a.m. when the office opened at 8; people were being turned away for not having the right documents after waiting for hours; the staff checking on those waiting in line gave conflicting advice about what documents were acceptable. It was very discouraging.
Getting ready for the renewal was like planning an expedition. Rain was predicted and I might be waiting outside for quite awhile; I needed to have food, water, and something to occupy my time through long hours of waiting; I needed to wear something comfortable so I could sit on the ground outside if need be.
I collected everything I needed and did a final run-through before going to bed.
– Bike lock, check.
– Three bottles of water, check.
– Granola bars, check.
– Two sandwiches, check.
– All documentation needed, check.
– Checkbook, just in case, check.
– Bank debit card, check.
– Cell phone, check.
– Notebook and pen, check.
– Paperback, check.
– Umbrella, check.
– Backpack, check.
– Bike lights, check.
– Wallet and driver’s license, check.
– Check documentation again, check.
I set the alarm early on the last day the office was open, and was on the road on my bicycle by 6:30 a.m., in pitch black. To my everlasting joy, I was only number ten in line when I arrived at 6:40 a.m. I settled in on the ground along with all the other hopefuls, leaning against the wall under an overhang, armed to the teeth with food, water, and reading materials. Shortly after eight the office opened. The woman stepped out into the walkway and announced, “I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that we are open. The bad news is that our computer system is down statewide so we can’t do anything”. Unbelievable, but not surprising..
Since I was only number ten, I got inside into the air conditioning to wait (at 8 a.m. it was already a real feel of 90+ degrees with 87% humidity). After a few fits and starts the computer system was up and running by 8:30, and the work started.
Listening to the employees behind the counter chatting among themselves, I overheard that a woman had walked up and down the long line of hopefuls the day before telling everyone that the local office was closing that day, not the following day. None of the employees wanted to correct her, as they were hoping for a quieter last day.
It seems everyone stuck it out in line that day instead of coming back, or went to another office. There were still over thirty people in line after me by the time the office opened that last day, however. I had been wise to get there so early and to be prepared with unassailable documentation. By 9 a.m. I was on my way home, in utter shock at my tremendous luck.
I’m so glad that’s over for me! I have no idea what we’ll do when Chelsea’s license comes up for renewal in two years. We will likely have to fly back here just to renew her license.