Real ID, Enhanced Driver Licenses - continue [View all]

Spouse this morning went to the DMV office in Plymouth, with all the required documents. No, no bazillion questions, only several lists each with 10-15 items from which to select one.

Upon arrival, noticing that there is also Enhanced License, decided to ask for that one thinking that both were interchangeable. The agent on duty insisted that financial documentation was needed: bank or credit card statement. Confused, spouse went back to the car to check the list and then realized that it was for Real ID. Back to the office, to the end of the line only to be told, by a different agent that... all the needed documents were there, yes, even for the Enhanced License.

List F - if anyone is interested - is for Proof of Minnesota Residency/Address. It has 20 items from which two are required. Yes, number 3 is financial information with account numbers. But number 1 is a home utility bill and number 17 is a valid MN. driver's license both of which spouse presented. This license is more expensive and will take long time to arrive.

And yet, this dove tails to my experience last week at a County Service office to renew a car registration. (I prefer to go to the office to hand pick them, I do have the time). I went at 4:00 PM, knowing that it would take longer time, with people coming from work. I was told that wait time was estimated at 20 min. It quickly moved to 50 min (there is a screen showing this at various locations).

And then I realized that of the 20 counters, only 5 were manned (womanned?) When I asked, I was told that they are having hard time attracting and retaining the right employees, with adequate attitude: patience and knowledge of the various issues.

Spouse's experience this morning confirmed this.

The "unintended consequences" of full employment, I suppose.