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1) New Staff
Fill 14 vacant budgeted positions. Secure 16 additional employees
through DOES welfare-to-work participants.
Fill vacant positions in Inspection Station.
Seek detailees from other agencies who are trained in inspection work
to help staff Inspection Station on Saturdays.
Secure senior citizen employees through Office of Aging to work in
customer service centers.
2) Operations
Implement system to screen customers as they arrive at service
centers to distinguish those who are "good to go" from those
who have issues with unpaid tickets or other problems. Similar to
"Express" lines at supermarket.
Establish specially trained staff at each location to help customers
who have issues with unpaid tickets or other problems.
Prioritize shifts so that staffing levels reflect periods of peak
demand (lunch hours, early mornings, Mondays, Saturdays, etc).
Beginning August 5, 2002, DMV will launch its Problem Resolution
Network. This will be a full service resolution environment that will
provide information and assistance on issues related to outstanding
tickets. Residents will be able to call, use the web, or come into the
office to request a payment plan or seek correction or dismissal of
tickets due to incorrect ownership. After intake, residents will be
given a tracking number for their inquiry and their case will be
researched. A resolution will be sent to them within 4 to 6 weeks. It
should be noted, that this will not replace the normal adjudication
process for requesting a hearing.
3) Inspections
Take all steps necessary to expedite construction of new inspections
facility on West Virginia Avenue.
Beginning August 5, 2002, DMV will engage 14 gas stations in the
reinspection program. These stations will be able to conduct safety
reinspections for residents who have failed their initial inspection.
4) Old Tickets
Beginning July 1, 2002, residents who have outstanding tickets that
are dated prior to Jan. 1, 1997 can receive amnesty. This means that
penalties and fees will be removed and payment due will consist of only
the original face value of the ticket(s). This program will apply to
parking tickets only.
During the amnesty period, anyone who has a license or registration that
is due for renewal will receive a 6 month temporary vehicle registration
or license. At the end of the 6 month period, all tickets must be paid
or resolved in order to renew.
Beginning July 8, 2002, DMV will accept requests for payment plans.
The criteria for the plan will be outstanding tickets over $250, with
25% down and 6 months to pay. Tickets must be at least 60 days old to
qualify for the plan. It should be noted that not all applicants will be
accepted for the plan.
5) Public Information
Beginning July 15, 2002, DMV will begin sending letters to residents
who have outstanding tickets. They will be informed that they need to
resolve their outstanding tickets or obligations before seeking to renew
their license or registration. The letter will also direct residents to
where they can get assistance and information for resolution or a
payment plan.
Through mailings and PSAs, we will urge citizens to use on-line and mail
in options so that they can avoid coming in person to service centers.
("Skip the Trip," "On-line beats In-line every
time")
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Talking Points - Councilmember Carol Schwartz
Thank you Mr. Mayor, and to my colleagues.
As many of you know, my Committee held a hearing last week on the Motor
Vehicle Department. Well it went on for seven and a half hours and it
wasn't pretty. We are having problems here, let's not kid ourselves. My
colleagues and I on the Council are hearing painful stories from our
constituents; frontline low-paid workers are having to be the bearers of
all this bad news; the mayor is getting a lot of e-mail he doesn't really
want to read; the lines are too long; the complaints are too numerous and
too believable to come to any other conclusion but that we a have a
problem.
The way I see it, you can't begin to solve a problem until
you recognize and then admit that you have one. Well, thank goodness, all
involved admit it. So, we've taken the first step in solving it. I see
here today a real commitment on the part of my colleagues and the mayor to
solve this problem and to do so in a way that is fair to all citizens. I
sense a determination in Sherryl Hobbs Newman to make things right and to
meet the new demands that have been placed on her agency.
As the chairman of the oversight Committee, I have a
special interest in the operation of the Department of Motor Vehicles and
the other agencies that work closely with the department. But I also have
a personal interest. I don't have a government car or driver. I have my
own car I need my car. I need to have it registered, insured and inspected
just like everyone else. I need to know that my government is up to the
task of renewing my registration and my license in a timely fashion. I
need to know that my government can run my car through the inspection
process in a reasonable amount of time. None of us have all day to sit in
line waiting to have our car inspected or getting a registration renewed.
As we go forward, my Committee will continue to monitor
the operations at DMV and we will hold those in charge accountable. We are
here in good faith and we are here because we want to be part of the
solution and the Council was a part of the solution. I think that we can
bring relief to those who need relief. Our people deserve better and we're
going to do all we can to improve the situation.
Thank you Mr. Mayor. It's been good to work with you and
your staff on this important issue. |
