This may be the biggest time-saver since the horseless carriage: There could be a proposal before the state legislature next year to outsource (translation: privatize) all or some of the functions of the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles.
Can you imagine no more paralysis of the posterior while trying to transfer the title to your old Plymouth? Can you dream of no longer showing up at the DMV and drawing number 463 when number 118 is “now being served”?
It is now possible to obtain hunting, fishing and marriage licenses, register to vote and buy lottery tickets all combined for less time than it takes to get the address on your driver’s license changed.
DMV outsourcing really isn’t a new concept. At least 18 other states have various versions, according to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. The auto club AAA proposed a change in Colorado, and at least some members of the legislature will be in support at the next session in January
And not a queue too soon, in the public’s view.
Yes, most DMV employees are usually cheerful, kind and helpful. But there is an “organizational problem.” If you try to conduct business there, half of the clerk stations are empty. Either there is a severe shortage of worker bees or the ones on the payroll are at lunch, or coffee breaks, out sick, on vacation, attending a grandmother’s funeral, on maternity leave or attending meetings “in the back.”
Meanwhile, customers are growing restless trying to give the state their money.
DMV pooh-bahs are promising to stick a little adhesive tape on the problems, but don’t bet on anything significant unless the lawmakers take action.
The culture of big bureaucracies is almost impossible to change. The catch phrase of upper and middle management is “we’ve always done it this way.” People with new ideas get chewed up and spit out by the system. Just ask the latest director at Veterans Affairs.
Therefore, keeping the DMV as a monopoly won’t effectively shake things up. And outsourcing to another monopoly might be an improvement, but it is not the total answer.
Competition is needed. Improving service and cutting costs call for innovation.
A new law should stipulate that at least two or more qualified businesses vie for DMV business. Competition has spawned the fast-food industry, drive-in windows, ATM machines, one-hour dry cleaners, quick lubes, speedy printers, online banking and frozen dough for pizzas.
Why not be able to drop off the paperwork for your car in the morning and pick it up at night?
Another thing: DMV offices are only open five days a week during normal business hours. Odd, but that’s also the same time that most people have to work. But what if you could do your DMV transactions on weekends? Duh!
Most of us can remember when only corner drugstores filled prescriptions and grocers sold food.
It’s time to put the state DMV out to pasture.
Dick Hilker (dhilker529@ ) of Arvada is a retired Denver area newspaper editor and columnist. His columns appear twice monthly in The Denver Post.
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