Welcome to North Carolina, you can’t drive here
I had a wonderful experience recently while attempting to get my North Carolina Drivers License. I spent three hours of my day for what should have been a 20-30 minute exercise. While I usually defend government and bureaucracies as I understand the problems associated with managing drivers licenses and identification for the 10th largest state (by population) which is over 9,000,000 people. I have to wonder at some of the rules and regulations that were put in place (for whatever reason) that make getting things done difficult, time consuming, and potentially even impossible.
Not to mention the fact that I almost failed the computer test (more on that later).
I did the smart thing prior to getting in the car and driving to the NC DOT offices. I looked online and determined all the information I would need and stuck all that information in a folder. The required information includes proof of residency, proof of age and identity, proof of liability insurance (huh?), and an original social security card.
To gather all those documents, I had two utility bills from my new home, my Virginia drivers license, a certified birth certificate, my dog-eared social security card, and an expired passport. I had just bought a new car the previous weekend and hadn’t contacted my insurance agent yet (in the State of North Carolina, you have 30 days to update your insurance company). My insurance company (USAA) took all my information and sent me a link in e-mail to a PDF which is my proof of insurance. It was August the 25th and the insurance certificate said the policy was valid August 26th through March of 2010. Of course the nice ladies at the NC DOT license office in Fuquay-Varina were the ones to point this out.
I arrive at the NC DOT office in Fuquay-Varina at a respectable 9am. There is no line but rather a sign-in sheet. I see several other folks in the lobby, sign my name, and proceed to wait. Just in the 20-30 minutes before I got called, I could already see some serious process issues that the NC DOT seems to be suffering from. The computer where people take their tests is not linked very well with the back office, the last step in the process when you get your picture taken is not linked to the back office (and if so, it’s not linked very well). I can see the opportunities not only for someone to get a license with someone else’s picture on it, but can see some serious bucks for some process consultant to come in and fix several issues.
I get called and take all my documentation up to the desk and have a seat. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that the person helping me was rude, but she wasn’t courteous in the least. When she asked for my proof-of-insurance, I hand over my newly minted policy on my shiny new car. She kindly points out that it isn’t active until tomorrow (the 26th of August). I explain that I just bought the car and that under North Carolina law, my old policy is valid for 30 days. She reponds saying that, “this doesn’t prove you are insured today.” Not to mention the fact that I’ll be using the license in the future (including tomorrow), or that I could have easily just created a fake proof-of-insurance certificate in any old word processor (hint hint) as they don’t actually validate the policy. Basically, there are many many ways I could have circumvented the proof part, but I digress.
Why do you need to have insurance to be *able* to drive? If you can take the drivers school and pass the test shouldn’t you be able to be licensed to drive? What if you don’t own a car? There is an exception where you can get a license for fleet vehicles if you don’t have insurance, but what if you want to borrow your brother’s car every once in a while? I understand having insurance to get a title or to register your vehicle, but to obtain a drivers license?
We eventually figure out that I can contact my insurance company and have them FAX a copy of my current policy on my car that I just sold to the offices there in Fuquay-Varina. However, that policy was just cancelled by me on the phone a few hours ago. This ended up working, but in my opinion in no way provided “proof” in fact, it was a cancelled policy!
While we’re waiting for the FAX, I am allowed to take the computer test. Let me preface this by saying that I’m a pretty good and safe driver. I know most if not all of the rules and haven’t had a ticket in years (knock-knock). I knew all the signs (even the ones where they just indicate the shape and color (like a yellow circle, which I happen to know is a rail-road crossing)), knew when to stop for school busses, etc. I also graduated from high school before “No Child Gets Ahead” so my testing skills are probably not up to par (even though I seemed to have graduated from college with an engineering degree). The test questions on that test were totally bogus. In fact, it’s stated on the state website that MOST DRIVERS FAIL the test on their first attempt. There is even one company that will provide you with sample test questions … for a fee (take a sample test here for free)! It’s not because these are bad drivers that don’t know the rules, it’s because the questions suck!
I passed the test with 5 incorrect answers (missing 6 out of 25 is a failing score) and on my last question I was guessing and crossing my fingers.
While waiting, my insurance arrives and I go up to finish the process. There is some issue with submitting my record. Some system they keep referring to as “Social Security” is down and my record is failing to go through. It’s been over two hours already so they suggest that I go to lunch and hopefully when I return the system will be back up. I’m not stupid enough to think that the “Social Security” system went down. Rather, some system that the state runs was having issues. I go to lunch, do some shopping and return. The system still won’t process my record while others are going through fine (including other renewals, other out-of-state changes (which mine is)). They are on the phone with tech support for good 30 minutes and the decision is to start over and go through the process from scratch, which happens to work.
I get my picture taken, and am told I can expect my license in the mail in two weeks. However, if I don’t receive it, I’m to call a number they give me (I’m not holding my breath).
Here’s my beef. The system isn’t designed to ensure that people *can* drive. All these other checks and balances would be easy to circumvent and don’t really prove anything. What was that “Social Security” system anyway? What is it accomplishing and does it have ANYTHING to do with my ability to operate a car?
Sid, Sid, Sid. The document requirements to get your license in just about any state are deteremined by laws. The Real Id Act is a law that sets out uniform guide lines that states can follow in order to issue a document (ie driver license or ID card) that can be used to gain entry to federal government buildings or military bases or to board an airline, etc. North Carolina is compliant with this law. The “Social Security system” is an online verification system that makes sure that the name, date of birth and Social Security number are all correct, so that someone can’t use your SSN with their name. The document requirements are pretty much the same, state to state. Now, that insurance thing… Suppose you are driving down the road and some schmoe runs into you. He is driving his girl friends car. He doesn’t have insurance, but she does. But when you go to file a claim against her insurance company, they say, “Tough luck Sid. Her boyfriend wasn’t on her policy, so we ain’t payin’ you a nickel.” Fortunately, since he had to get his insurance to get his license, he has his own insurance for you to file against. Now, as for proving whether you can drive or not. How would you suggest we do that. We could have road tested you. It’s only a 10 minute ride around the block, but you would have complained that you already have a license so why do you need a road test. and what would a 10 minute ride prove. Or maybe we could increase the length of time you have to spend trying to get a license by requiring a two hour road test or two day, or maybe make you take driver training. See the problem? Sorry if my fellow DMV Ladies and Gents were not friendly. Here’s a phrase you should become familiar with. “Bless their hearts.” Welcome to North Carolina!
Granted there are some requirements for the Real ID Act and therefore I had to be verified to get my license. However, if the system is down there are several options … as a matter of fact they weren’t giving me the picture ID so they could have issues a temporary paper permit (which wouldn’t get me onto a plane or into a federal building) and if there was a continued problem with SS, they could have asked me to return … yadda yadda yadda
As for proof of insurance, it’s a piece of paper not subject to any verification with the exception that it’s a piece of paper (no “real” act of any sort). The so called “proof” is anything but proof that my insurance company will honor a claim. If I cancel my insurance the second I walk out the door of the DMV (who even says I didn’t cancel it before) is the State of North Carolina going to know that and somehow show up at my house and request my “Real ID?” NO.
Also, the problems with Real ID and proving who I am have nothing to do with insurance so my statement of why I needed to provide insurance to provide i *can* drive a car stands.
Bringing in a 3rd party into the discussion is irrelevant.
It’s a law enacted to prevent less fortunate and illegals off the road. What’s even more fucked up is that you can’t buy a car in North Carolina without a drivers license. See the problem yet?