Every S.C.
Division of Motor Vehicles Office was closed Wednesday so staff
could attend a one-day customer service training session in
Columbia. But the closing near the end of the month -- a time when
DMV offices normally are busiest -- irked some who made the trip but
found the doors locked.
"They need to plan better," said Aaron Jones, who along with
Kelly Elliott drove from Fort Mill to the Heckle Boule-vard DMV
office in Rock Hill.
"Other companies don't close down their operation for a whole
day," Elliott said.
DMV has been under fire for years because of long lines and
problems delivering services to customers. The decision to close the
offices for training was made by Gov. Mark Sanford, who is
attempting to institute widespread accountability, cost-saving,
efficiency and customer service reforms, said Will Folks, Sanford's
press secretary.
DMV offices will be undergoing a number of changes in upcoming
months, including adding greeters at office doors. People also will
be able to renew driver's licenses and identification cards and
change addresses on the Internet starting in June.
Wednesday's DMV closing was first announced May 15, giving the
public almost two weeks to ready for the closure, Folks said.
Some who found DMV offices closed Wednesday agreed with the idea
that customer service training and reform is overdue, but wished it
didn't require closing offices altogether.
Truck driver Joe Hayden of Van Wyck said he would have to make
the trip again from Lancaster County to renew his driver's
license.
"I have until June 27th, but I wanted to get it done early,"
Hayden said. "I had no idea they were closed today."
All DMV offices are scheduled to open today at normal times.
Starting June 7, regional DMV offices in Rock Hill, Florence,
Aiken, Irmo, Greenville and Charleston will be open on
Saturdays.
Contact Andrew Dys at 329-4065 or mailto:adys@heraldonline.com
The Associated Press contributed to this
story.
