The notice from the DMV about renewing my Driver’s License stated that I had to actually show up at a DMV office this year. The notice also stated that I could pre-register online so I did and found out info about the new ‘Real ID’ licenses. ‘I might as well get one of those’, I thought, so I dug out the appropriate documents for “Real ID’ and showed up at the DMV on Rosemead at 7:50 on Tuesday morning.
7:50 a.m. The end of the line at the Rosemead DMV and a pretty spiffy red car. People with appointments were ushered in through the back door. Those of us with no appointments waited in line.
Not only was I armed with a certified birth certificate, my real SSN card, and a bill from So. Cal Gas to prove that I was an American who lived in Pasadena I brought along my Kindle Paperwhite so I could read while waiting. After reading all the horror stories about the lines at the DMV I thought I’d be waiting a half a day or longer.
Didn’t happen that way at all. Here is what really occurred.
The line at the side of the DMV building. It was a little after 8:15 a.m.when this photo was takenand we had just rounded the corner from the back of the building.
It took a little over a half an hour for the line to move from behind the building to the entrance where there was a woman I’ll call “The Document Screener or The Voice of No”. (She’s not shown, but that cart is hers.) It turns out that because my birth certificate has my maiden name on it and my Social Security Card has my married name I have to get a document from Spokane County, Washington showing my official name change in order to get a ‘Real ID’. WHAT?!!? Well, never mind. I’ll just use my passport to travel and visit federal locations. And just do a simple Drivers License renewal today.
I checked in at the “Start Here” sign and was told to take a seat anywhere. So I did. And discovered that the book on my Paperwhite was the wrong one in a series I’m reading. The series BTW are hilarious mysteries set in Dublin by Caimh McDonnell. I mean really laugh-until-your-stomach-aches funny. So I waited and people-watched instead of reading.
My number, G 046, is called! So off to window 17 I went, had an eye test and paid my $35. One eye is definitely weaker than the other.
After the eye test I was sent to the Camera Room where I had my photo taken. Next–on to the computers in another room where I was to take the Driver License test. The last time I took it–years ago–it was on paper. Not now. The box on the right opens the actual digital drivers test. I missed one question.
9:50 a.m. As I was heading out the back door I noticed some mural panels painted on the back wall. Took photos and then out to my car and home. Now to get my passport renewed…
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