Motor Vehicle Department

Ok so this is just a rant.

I sold my car today to a kid in our ward, Benny. He needed a car and I didn't need to make any money off it so needless to say he got a really great deal. Well I woke up early this morning and started searching around for my title. I knew it had to to be one of two places otherwise I would never see it again and would have to get a duplicate title. So I searched through piles of paperwork, weeded through stacks of folders and old bills, until finally at the end of the pile there it was crumpled and folded and generally discarded and forgotten about. I pull it out, straighten out as much as a I can, trying to make it look like I actually cared about keeping it filed away nicely, and jumped in my new car to go get it notarized. I drive to the nearest open bank, figuring that they either had a notary or knew where one is. The first bank I stopped at didn't have one but they refered me to another bank just up the street that could help me. Well I get to that bank, wait in the everlastingly long, or so I thought, line to see the notary. I finally get helped and she's pulling out all her books and stamps and whatnot when she sees that it is the title to a car. "We don't do those anymore, ADOT requires you to go to the MVD to get those done now because it is a transfer of ownership." She said to me politly and apologetically. When did that change? Now I have to go stand in line at the MVD just to get something notarized. Ey ey ey. Well it was still early so I hoped that the lines were short, I called up my husband to rant to him a bit and tell him I would be longer than I thought. He then suggested that I just take Benny along with me so I can help him get it registered and get everything knocked out at once. Great idea I think so we call up Benny to get him to come and he isn't even awake yet. So much for getting to the MVD before the lines are long. Three or so hours later he calls up proclaiming that he is ready to go. By this time I guessed the lines were pretty long but what the heck it had to be done. I drive over to pick him up and process to the ONLY office in the area that is open on a Saturday. Whoever thought that only one office in a 20 mile radius should be open on a Saturday of all days wasn't really thinking. The line is snaking out the door and down the entire length of the building, I make Benny get out and stand in line, good call by the time I parked and got up there the line had almost doubled in length. Now this really was an everlastingly long line. Slowly we make our way up to the counter when the young lady behind it popped her gum in my face and asked very nonchalantly what I needed. I had to repeat myself twice before she finally understood. We get out ticket and find a seat. Now this particular MVD is quite large there are 33 windows and probably close to a hundred chairs, almost everyone of them full with several people standing around the edges. Of these 33 windows only about 15 of them were open. LESS THAN HALF! What kind of manager thinks, oh it's Saturday, we're the only office around that's open, less than half staff should do. ARGH! We sit there for almost 2 hours listening to one number after another being called while children run around screaming and sweaty guys try to squeeze by into a seat that really isn't meant to hold that much weight. (no offense to anyone) Finally our number is called. It's a glorious moment, relief floods through me and almost too quickly I jump from my chair toward the awaiting attendant. Our business only takes about 10 minutes but in the brief bit that she is quickly typing the information into the computer I overhear just exactly why it take so long (aside from less than half staffing) to get through the line. The converstation goes like this.

Employee: "Sir, I need you to select yes or no to the question."
Man: "I'm already registered."
Employee: "Ok sir but I still need you to select yes or no."
Man: "Well I don't know I told you I'm already registered."
Employee: "I understand that sir but I still need you to select yes or no."
Man: "Why? I'm already registered."
Employee: "Because we need all the questions answered. So would you like to register to vote?"
Man: "I'm already registered!"
Employee: "So is that a yes or a no?"
Man: "Yes I guess, I'm already registered."
Employee: "Ok you'll need to fill out this part of the form then."
Man: "I told you I'm already registered why do I need to do it again."
Employee: "Sir just tell me which party you want to register with and we can move on."
Man: "Democart but I'm already registered."
Employee: "Thank you sir by the way you can complete this paperwork online and you don't need to come into the office." He then hands him back his paperwork. "Ok just take this over to that counter and put it in the bin and wait for your name to be called."
Man: "Where?"
Employee: "Over there."
Man: "Oh ok and just wait for my name?"
Employee: "Yes sir that is what I just said. Have a nice day."

Ok, if you were that employee wouldn't you just advise the man to mark 'no' if he is already registered and move on instead of wasting precious time going back and forth like that?

So just to end and get back to my original point. The MVD sucks. State employees suck. It's all just one big circus.