Democratic lawmakers’ idea to eliminate the state Department of Motor Vehicles deserves serious consideration.
The idea, floated last week as part of a group of consolidation proposals made during the never-ending state budget negotiations, is based on the premise that functions such as drivers’ license renewals can be taken care of in a number of venues — such as supermarkets or shopping malls.
Indeed, anyone who has renewed their license at a AAA office can probably attest to the fact that the process was quicker and less painful than waiting in line at a DMV facility, where customer service has never exactly been a priority.
The nonpartisan Office of Legislative Research reported last week that only 10 states have a freestanding motor vehicle agency like Connecticut. Seven states have registration and licensing split between more than one agency, while 31 states have a motor vehicle division or office within a larger state agency.
Under the Democrats’ plan, none of the DMV’s more than 700 employees would be laid off. Instead, they would be shifted to the departments of public safety, consumer protection and environmental protection — agencies that would split the responsibilities once held by DMV.
The Democrats’ budget proposal also calls for reorganizing the Department of Children and Families and creating a new oversight committee chaired by members of the General Assembly; merging the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security into the Department of Public Safety; merging the Film Division of the Commission on Culture and Tourism into the Department of Economic and Community Development; and requiring the Department of Correction and Judicial Branch to coordinate transportation of prisons in order to save 10 percent on the cost of prisoner transportation.
Given the reluctance to cut jobs, one has to wonder how much of a cost savings would be realized by eliminating the motor vehicles department. Still, lawmakers and Gov. M. Jodi Rell should keep the DMV idea — and the proposals for other consolidations — on the negotiating table.
