June 17, 2008

Me and the BMV

I promised some time ago to share with the inquiring reader (I know you're out there) more information about my interesting license issues.

It all started last October, when I received a short letter from the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. It informed me that all drivers who received two tickets within the space of two years were required to take a driver safety course. If I failed to do it, I would have my license suspended in December.

I dutifully signed up for an online course, which amounted to a Java-based slideshow with a voice-over. Although very technically deficient, it did sport a nifty piece of code which paused the system if you tabbed to other windows. Lacking a second Internet-connected computer, I was forced to actually listen
to the droning for four hours. Figuring I had fulfilled my debt to society, I went on my merry way, and the issue was forgotten.

Months later, May 26th I signed up for my own car insurance in preparation for my move to Milwaukee, and my new job up here. Other pertinent plans included renting a moving truck for the drive up here so that I could transport furniture for the apartment Sharon and I will be sharing come July. Geico was more
then happy to be my insurance provider, but also notified me that I had a suspended license.

Some further checking on the on-line safety course revealed that I had lacked 20 minutes worth of final form futzing for it to technically finish out. I completed the course and called the BMV. They told me I would need to wait 8 to 9 days for them to receive and process the information. With some help from my family, and lots of bus rides, I got to Milwaukee and managed to get back and forth to work for the first 2 weeks of my job.

After two weeks and no update from the BMV, I called them again and discovered they didn't yet have any information from the safety course I had taken. So I called the safety course and harassed them last Saturday, and obtained a promise that my information would be electronically sent to the BMV yesterday (Monday). Thus, I'm now hoping that I'll be able to drive by this weekend.

The moral of the story?
Always be sure you live across from a Baker's Square: I don't think I would have survived if I could not walk to a cheese-cake producing establishment every day.

My question for you, dear reader, is this. Have you encountered any slow and inefficient government bureaucracies recently? If not, what country do you live in?

Old Link of the Day: Moore attempts to get himself killed. Again.

Posted by Moore at June 17, 2008 04:31 PM