[Nfbf-l] Bureaucracy To the Max: My Experience with the FloridaDMVhow it works in the sunshine state

Tue Aug 7 06:41:36 UTC 2012

So neat your article appeared in the Ziegler. Congratulations Pat!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Mark Tardif
To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List
Sent: Saturday, August 04, 2012 3:32 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Bureaucracy To the Max: My Experience with the 
FloridaDMVhow it works in the sunshine state

Yes, I remember this article, and Pat, all I can say is that you were a
trooper.  This certainly was overkill!  All I can say is that I was just
fortunate, I guess.  I called ahead of time to get details of what I would
need, and fortunately what I met up with face-to-face was what I was told to
expect when I made my phone call.  The fact that my ID had expired didn't
seem to be a problem with the people who helped me.  I suppose being a man
who was married at one time but never had to change his last name, made it
easier, since I didn't have to hunt high and low for a marriage certificate.
It also sounds like you ran into the classic case of some people who work at
your branch of DMV not getting the accurate communication about what you
needed to bring, for example that you needed to bring a birth certificate
and a Social Security card, not one or the other.  Boy, if I had had to make
four trips down there, I would have been ready to go to the press and talk
to the public about another reason we are known as Flori Duh.  That's
terrible.  So I guess I was just extremely fortunate, not having to wait at
all, working with someone who obviously knew I was blind and really knew
what was needed.  I was afraid I would be running back and forth.  All I can
say is that I hope everyone on this list who has to do this in the future
will have an experience more like mine.  But what a mess!

Mark Tardif
Welcome to my planet
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Alan Dicey" <adicey at bellsouth.net>
To: <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, August 04, 2012 1:25 PM
Subject: [Nfbf-l] Bureaucracy To the Max: My Experience with the Florida
DMVhow it works in the sunshine state

> Dear Friends,
> This article appeared a few weeks ago in one of the most popular,
> prestigious,  and widely distributed  electronic magazine sent out to
> Blind or Visually Impaired people throughout  the United States.
> Just what we needed another article portraying our State as less than the
> optimum place to live.
> I wanted to send this out sooner, but was very busy, with a move of
> residences, and it slipped my mind, but I had a similar experience with
> the Florida DMV, not as bad as this, but it was very uncomfortable so I
> wanted to make others aware not to let their Florida State Identification
> Cards expire or when they go to get a "State Identification Card" what to
> know and what to expect.
> My personal experience was that I  had such a hard time getting anyone to
> understand that I was Blind, believe it or not, and that I needed
> assistance.
> Having a white cane in your hand means nothing at the DMV I went to, well,
> you best know how to say you are Blind and need assistance in Spanish, and
> hope for the best, let me leave it at that!
>
> With Best Regards,
> Alan Dicey
> Miami, Florida
> This is the Matilda Ziegler Magazine
> Weekly Edition for July 2, 2012
> Address: 20 Thorndal Circle
> Darien, CT 06820
> Local Phone: 203-604-8601
> Toll Free: 877-424-5481
> Website: www.matildaziegler.com
> Email: editor at matildaziegler.com
> Ross Hammond, Editor
>
> Contributor Patricia Lipovsky - Bureaucracy To the Max: My Experience with
> the DMV
> I wanted to write and share my wonderful experience I had recently with
> the
> Department of Motor Vehicles in the state of Florida.  Talk about
> bureaucracy, this is bureaucracy to the max as far as I'm concerned.  I
> don't know if it is the same in every state, but this is how it works in
> the
> sunshine state.
>
> It all started when my state ID expired.  Warning: If you do anything at
> all, do not let your ID expire.  It will be one of the biggest mistakes
> you
> make!
>
> First trip to the DMV
>
> I was told by a friend, even though my ID expired, just take it to the
> DMV,
> and they will just issue me a new one.  Wrong!
>
> Since there is a two hour turnaround time with my Para-transit, a very
> kind
> lady from my church offered to take me to the DMV so I wouldn't have to
> wait
> so long for my return trip.
>
> I took my expired ID, as my friend suggested, which of course had my
> picture
> on it, and after standing in line for about 30 minutes, was told it could
> not be accepted because it was expired.  I then offered another ID with a
> picture of my service animal and myself on it, but they still wouldn't
> budge.  They told me I needed to come back with two utility bills, to show
> proof of address, a social security card or birth certificate, and I would
> be good to go.
>
> Second Trip to the DMV
>
> About two or three weeks later, my very kind church lady and I went back
> to
> the DMV, water and electric bills in hand, along with my two photo ID's,
> my
> birth certificate, and got back in line to wait my turn.  I got up to the
> reception desk with all my info, and after looking at it, was asked for my
> social security card.  I explained I misplaced it, and the last time I was
> there, was told my birth certificate along with the other pieces of
> information I had would suffice.  She apologized, and stated my social
> security card was required.  I could go to the social security office and
> obtain a letter which they would accept, substantiating that I did have a
> social security card.
>
> Feeling very frustrated, since I truly thought this issue was going to be
> resolved at this time, and had other things to do, I told my very kind
> church lady friend that we would deal with this another day.  Once again,
> she graciously offered to take me to the Social Security office one day
> the
> next week, and then back to the DMV, which was exactly what we did.
>
> Third Trip to the DMV
>
> We went back to the DMV a week later, social security letter in hand, two
> utility bills, two picture ID's, and my birth certificate.  I anxiously
> awaited my turn, and after waiting approximately 30 to 45 minutes, got up
> to
> the desk and handed the person my info.  After looking through it, she
> stated my name on my birth certificate was not the same as on the other
> pieces of information. My response was, "Yes, I know, I got married." Can
> you guess what her next statement was? You got it.  She now needs a
> certified copy of my marriage certificate.
>
> Needless to say, at this point, I wanted to scream, but thanks to our Lord
> and Savior, managed to compose myself.   I then proceeded to tell her that
> this was my third trip to the DMV, and pointed out that she did have two
> picture ID's right there in her hot little hand (well, I did leave the hot
> little hand part out), with me standing right in front of her, verifying
> those pictures, plus two utility bills which verified home address and
> name,
> as well as my social security letter.  Noticing how frustrated I was, she
> decided to check with her boss, and upon return, proceeded to apologize
> for
> my inconvenience, but stated I would still have to come back with the
> marriage certificate.
>
> Frustrated, disappointed, and discouraged, out the door we went for the
> third time, knowing I had yet another obstacle to overcome.
>
> After numerous calls to New Jersey, I finally got to the correct office,
> where I was told they would be happy to send me a copy of my marriage
> certificate, provided I furnished them with a current driver's license or
> ID.  Hmmm, another obstacle!  Long story short, I ended up contacting my
> ex,
> who found it, and sent it to me.  Elated, I almost said "I love you," but
> caught myself in the nick of time, as that wouldn't have been a very good
> idea.
>
> Fourth Trip to the DMV
>
> So now my church lady friend and I are back at the DMV, with two photo
> ID's,
> two utility bills, my social security letter, my birth certificate, and my
> marriage certificate.  I once again, got up to the desk, feeling very
> confident this would be the day I get my new ID, but there was yet another
> glitch.  The marriage certificate that my ex thought was the original, was
> a
> copy, and I was told she could not accept a copy.  Now, I could feel the
> blood rush to my head, and tried very hard to maintain my composure.  She
> obviously took note of my expression, knowing I had been there before, and
> decided to ask her boss if she could accept it.  Luckily, for my sake,
> they
> did, and I was finally able to go on my merry way with my new ID.
>
> Now, let me say because of what happened with September 11th, and the
> ever-present identity theft problem, I do understand the security issue,
> and
> totally agree with it one hundred percent.  But what happened in my case,
> though, I feel was overkill.  If I didn't have two photo ID's, which
> obviously reiterated who I was, I could understand connecting all the
> dots,
> but truly feel that wasn't necessary here.  Also, people who drive get
> notified 2 months in advance that their license will be expiring.  People
> with state ID's who do not drive, do not ever get notified.  What's up
> with
> that?
>
> Are people who don't drive less important? Do they not deserve equal
> treatment?  Is this discrimination?  You tell me.
> ###
>
>
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