Adventures at the BMV

     My husband Lanny is a patient man-- probably the most patient human being I have ever known. He is the one who trains the schnauzer that lives with us, handles detailed finances that drive me crazy, and puts up with me (that alone proves my point...). But he may have met his match with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

     Before I explain, I need to provide some historical background.

     The area we live in is rural. At one point our mailing address had us located in a little town about 5 miles away, the county seat. As the county grew, a new little town grew that is located about 2 miles away, and about 10 years ago the address here changed from one to the other.

     About five years ago, the laws in our state for obtaining a driver's license changed, requiring more stringent identification.  Recently, in an effort to simplify the process of renewing drivers licenses, the BMV began to encourage drivers to renew online. And just recently it was announced that soon all drivers licenses must be renewed online. Heaven help the poor motorist who is not wired...

     So, on with the story...

     My husband's drivers license expires this month. He received a "helpful reminder" from the BMV to renew online asap. It sounded so easy...

Attempt #1:  Any opportunity to avoid a trip to the BMV office is appealing to Lanny, so he set about filing his application online. After some time spent filling in the electronic boxes, he submitted the application. He received a message back telling him that his application had been denied because his current address did not match the address the BMV had for him on file. Sure enough, Lanny discovered his license had the old town listed, not the new one. A trip to the BMV would be necessary to complete the change of address form.

Attempt #2 (or, what later was to be called the Fact Finding Mission...):  This morning, a wintry, blustery Thursday, seemed to Lanny like the best day this week to get this done. He got up early in spite of the cold day, and was out the door before 9 am. It is about 5 miles in to the BMV office, all on country roads, so despite slippery roads he did not expect any trouble. He got there without incident. The BMV was not crowded, but he took a number,  following the established protocol. Soon his number was called and up to the desk he went. He explained why he was there. He produced a printed copy of the online change of address form.
     The application was denied. It seems the new security rules required him to produce two pieces of mail that had been delivered to him at the new address, as proof that he actually lived there. He was not told what pieces of mail were acceptable (something from the US government or his work place? A recent utility bill? A note from his mother??) but he would have to come back.  Since we had other places to be the rest of the day, this will have to wait.

Attempt #3 will be tomorrow if  "God willing and the creek don't rise..." I'll keep you posted!

1/20/2012 - Update-- Lanny headed out this afternoon to the BMV office with two recent bills (the trash bill and the cable service bill) in hand, as requested by law. He returned in about an hour. He had a printout from the BMV indicating he had indeed been successful in his renewal efforts. HOWEVER - the BMV office no longer prints up driver's licenses. They will send it to him in the mail. Should his current license expire prior to his receipt of the new license, they gave him a printed fascimile of that license in case he needs ID. In the old days, you went to the BMV, took a number, waited an hour, paid your fee, had a terrible photo taken and about 5 minutes later you walked out with a new license.  I would like to believe there is progress, but am not seeing it in the new process. I fear this is but one example of how complicated our lives have become since we got so techy...