Long Line As People Scurry to DMV Before Scheduled Closure

Hundreds lined up outside Connecticut’s DMV offices ahead of a scheduled closure to upgrade the computer system.

Jacqueline Hernandez, who was first in line at the Wethersfield office, stood outside at 5:30 a.m on Saturday.

“You have to come here, sacrifice your sleep, and be here,” she said.

By 6 a.m. dozens of people were lined up behind her.

“It’s my first time here, I wasn’t really sure what to expect but I’ve heard the lines are long,” said Jeff Bowers, who recently moved to Barkhamsted from California.

“Never like this though. It’s pretty bad today, actually,” said Craig Lemay, of Middletown.

Although lines at DMV offices are common, many said they were worse than usual on Saturday.

The state’s DMV offices close at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday as part of a $25 million project to modernize its 50-year-old computer system. During the closure, which lasts until Aug. 18, the DMV’s registration database will be updated.

The modernization project, which started in 2009, involves 14 million vehicle and customer records and the rewriting of over 40-million lines of computer code. During this phase, the DMV plans to put more services online, something those waiting in line Saturday said is badly needed.

“Last month I came at eight and I waited an hour and a half outside the building and two hours inside the building. Anything that helps move it along faster would be great,” said Cynthia Hutt, of Glastonbury.

“I was here a month before that and this is supposed to be the fastest DMV in the state and it took me two hours to do one little thing,” added Daniel Gorman of Wallingford.

If your driver’s license or car registration expires during the closure, officials said you’ll be able to renew it until Oct. 10 without paying a late fee. Additionally, licensing services will continue to be available at all DMV offices and select AAA offices during the closure.

For more information about the DMV’s Computer Upgrade: http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=4755&q=568534
 

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