Senate considers bill that would trim long DMV lines

By SEAN WHALEY LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU

10 years ago

Customers wait at the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles Henderson office, 1399 American Pacific Drive, on Monday, March 9, 2015. Southern Nevada DMV officials have been overwhelmed in recent weeks due to high volume, surging immigrant identification and licensing registrations, and kinks in their technologically advanced ҄Dash Pass system. Offices have been forced to turn away customers after some have waited hours in line. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Heidrych Cazzaly holds his 2-year old daughter, Bella, while his 4-year old daughter, Sienna, stands beside him while waiting in line for an express pass at the Department of Motor Vehicles office at 8250 W. Flamingo Road on Wednesday, March 12, 2015. He had been in line since 9 a.m. only to be told to come back another time. It was the third attempt to get his license renewed. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

People wait to be served at the Department of Motor Vehicles office at 8250 W. Flamingo Road on Wednesday, March 12, 2015. Hundreds of people waiting for hours were promised they would be served if they were inside DMV by 5 p.m. only to be turned away about 1 1/2 hours later. About 100 were not served.(Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

People watch the service monitor at at the Department of Motor Vehicles office at 8250 W. Flamingo Road on Wednesday, March 12, 2015. Hundreds of people waiting for hours were promised they would be served if they were inside DMV by 5 p.m. only to be turned away about 1 1/2 hours later. About 100 people were not served. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

UNLV student Allyson Faiman sits outside the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles Henderson office, 1399 American Pacific Drive, on Monday, March 9, 2015. She took the day off from work to be at at the DMV. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

People wait at the DMV in Las Vegas. (Review-Journal file)

A service monitor at Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles at the Henderson office,1399 American Pacific Drive, is seen on Monday, March 9,2015. Southern Nevada DMV officials have been overwhelmed in recent weeks due to high volume, surging immigrant identification and licensing registrations, and kinks in their technologically advanced ҄ash PassӠsystem. Offices have been forced to turn away customers after some have waited hours in line. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

CARSON CITY — A legislative money committee was told Wednesday that the Department of Motor Vehicles budgets under consideration this session include funding for 75 new positions to staff all windows in the urban Las Vegas offices to reduce long wait times.

The proposals also include the initial funding needed to build a new $109 million computer system that is expected to greatly improve efficiencies when it begins operation in about five years.

The Finance Committee heard some details of the proposals but took no final action.

Senate Majority Leader Michael Roberson, R-Henderson, a member of the panel, asked Troy Dillard, director of the department, what his agency needs to fix the problem with the long lines.

Dillard said the two budget items will address both the immediate need to reduce long lines at DMV offices and allow for a long-term fix that will improve transaction times by 30 percent.

The agency would be able to hire the new employees beginning July 1 and they would be able to begin work by September, he said.

Real ID, driver authorization cards and a growing economy have all contributed to a big increase in customers at DMV offices that often lead to wait times of five hours or more.

The growth in DMV customers is especially acute in Southern Nevada. Customer counts at the four Las Vegas metropolitan offices increased from 1.43 million in 2013 to 1.73 million in 2014, a 28 percent increase.

Contact Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900. Find him on Twitter: @seanw801