Editor's Log

Faster than fast-food

For more than 40 years in three states I have either received a driver's license or renewed a driver's license, but never as quickly or easily as at the Department of Motor Vehicles office on Dudley Avenue in Parkersburg.

As I left the newsroom Monday my cohorts commented they'd see me in three or four hours, joking it would take that long to get my driver's license renewed.

I almost believed them when I saw the packed parking lot at the DMV and a bulging waiting area inside. After a short wait at the information desk to get a number, I thought I'd be there the rest of the day, judging from what my number was and what numbers were being served.

But, before I could sit down, my number was called and I headed for the far right side of the building where two women and I joked about the gender on my seven-year license finally going to be corrected.

I have had a great deal of fun with two governors, a DMV director and several state and federal officials about my driver's license mistakenly listing me as "F." One governor and one DMV director personally wanted to have it corrected, but that would have ruined the fun.

The woman at the DMV counter quickly corrected the error, joking, "I won't even have you prove it," as she handed me a receipt and told me to have a seat until the information desk called my number.

Again before I could sit, the information desk called me, verified the information, took my photograph, had me sign the signature screen and handed me my license, after a little joking about the woman behind the counter having been a journalism major and not being able to find a job after college.

To my surprise, the entire process took less than 15 minutes. That's what I call service. Heck, fast-food restaurants aren't even that quick!