Morning Roundup: Goodbye, Abe Edition
D.C. Police Seek Suspect in Series of Bank Robberies
Suspect in 9-Year-Old's Murder Found Dead in D.C. Jail
Photo of the Day: November 25, 2009
Ballou HS Rocks the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
A "lack of interior space" seems like a fairly redundant complaint about a DMV outpost, but in any case: the Brentwood Service Center outpost of the District Department of Motor Vehicles will close permanently on August 14. The move leaves Northeast residents in a bind, as that quadrant of the city will soon be the only one without a DMV service center.
On a related note, the D.C. DMV will no longer be renewing registrations in-person.
As the Post reports, the center has been in the middle of a furious debate for some time. Some in Ward 5 find the DMV a dump -- "[the service center] has been an affront to me and the dignity of every citizen who has had to wait outside of it" -- while others believe that the desertion of the service center does little but solidify that the only businesses that can survive in the area are liquor stores. The individuals in favor of the closing certainly seem pleased -- but locals will obviously be interested to see what, if anything, replaces the service center at 1233 Brentwood Road, NE.
Those in Northeast will now need to figure out which other DMV location -- Georgetown, Pennsylvania Avenue SE, or M Street SW -- will be the least taxing to get to when they find themselves with business regarding licenses or parking permits. The commercial road test and licensing center which is located next to the general service center will remain open.
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1233 Brentwood Road is the sole road test location for noncommercial driver's licenses.
Will all road tests be at the commerial road test site, 2390 South Capitol Street, SE?
Mike: The commercial road test center next door will remain open. Only the general service center is closing.
Oh boy, I was there not too long ago and was lucky to find a two hour street spot in the adjacent neighborhood because the lot was strictly only for those waiting for their road test. The place is a complete zoo. Think of the worse sardine-packed elevator situation you've ever been in, and that's still not worse than the state of this DMV. But, Big Momma, aka Hawk Security perched on her stool at the entrance would always be holdin' it down when things got testy as they never fail to do on any day the DMV is open.
Aaron, any word on what this space used to be before DMV? It looks like it may have been a Hardees, Roy Rogers, etc.
But, in all honesty as far as my experience went, aside from the parking situation, it was about 10-15 minutes to get my number and about an additional 10-15 waiting for it to be called. I was there to get a ROSA exemption and the man I was dealing with approved my request without needing to see any of my supporting documentation (utility bill, DL, etc.). So, all in all this place was tiny but quite efficient because none of the employees were taking #$%! from anyone. Although, the M St SW location was a hop, skip and jump from me, they are closed Mondays, the day I tried to go and have this taken care of.
Don: I believe that before the building was a service center, it was a soul food joint -- but that was some time ago, so no idea what the state of the kitchen area, etc. is.
Don't most people who have business with the DMV drive? I mean, if they don't drive, then why are they going to the DMV in the first place? Thus, if they can drive, does it really matter how close the nearest DMV center is? DC isn't really all that big so at most you are talking a 15 minute drive?
If DC wanted to really improve the DMV experience, they would set up a special service center reserved for people with all of their paperwork in order. The rule being, if you show up and are not prepared, you pay at $100 fine. There is nothing more frustrating then having everything ready to go and waiting while some guy tries to explain that even though he has no title, bill of sale, plates, or driver's license, he would like to register the beat-up car with temp Maryland tags.
You can't possibly be trying to make a case for the "One less DMV ain't no biggie" camp. There are obvious reasons why it's a big deal, so obvious that I will leave it to you discover on your own. But, the general idea is that the more locations there are, the better the spread. Thus, the greater the efficiency at any given location.
On the $100, I'm sure every DMV employee has probably suggested that (or at least thought about it) during the weekly staff meeting. I'm for it too. On the flip side, some of these employees aren't the sharpest tools so maybe you and I are yelling at them for something legitimate that their limited imagination cannot piece together, much less act accordingly. But yes, if you don't have the docs, bill of sale, etc. then yea that person definitely gets to wear the fail hat all day.
Well, if you don't have a driver's license and just need an identity card, then no, you don't drive. And if you're like me and have a driver's license but don't own a car (and I know I'm not the only one), then no, you don't necessarily drive.
When they moved their main service center to Georgetown, it became a much bigger pain in the butt to get my DC driver's license than it was when they were still at Judiciary Square. Although I wasn't complaining at all about the fact that I could get my number and spend my two-hour wait at Benihana...