Good Times at New DMV Location

Yesterday, I went to the DMV to get my new license. It recently moved from the east side of Erie to the old Staples location near Sam’s Club on Peach.

The new center is spacious and has two waiting areas, one for photo licenses renewals, and I assume the other is for people who need new licenses. When you walk into the center, there’s an attendant sitting at the desk directing “traffic.”

I took a number and sat down. It was a little after 11:00 a.m., and there weren’t many people waiting. Within 10 minutes, my number was called.

As far back as I can remember, the people staffing the cameras and issuing the new licenses have been visually impaired. I think that’s interesting because they’re taking photographs. But, yesterday, it occurred to me that knowing they can’t see too well might put people more at ease if they’re self concious about having their picture taken.

After my name was called and I reported to the attendant, I answered some questions on a touchscreen about whether I wanted to be an organ donor and if I was registered to vote. I was able to change my party right then and there. I had changed it for the last presidential election, but wanted to change it back to the party I’d been since I started voting.

Then, I sat down to have my picture taken. Snap. A preview of my image appeared on the screen, and the clerk asked me if it was okay. It was such an improvement over the old one, that I didn’t want to chance making it worse with a second try.

Next, I sat down in the waiting area again while my license was prepared, and within five minutes, my name was called. I signed for it and off I went.

From start to finish, I was in the DMV for fewer than 15 minutes!