There is a conspiracy afoot in Oklahoma. I know this because for the last two months I've been trying to get my driver's license renewed. Little did I know when I started this quest that the dark forces of the bureaucracy and dare I say, evil itself, would thwart me and perhaps thousands of others from achieving our goal.
If you are to believe the perpetually surly clerks at three different tag agencies, the place you go to renew, there are a variety of reasons for this on going nightmare. COVID-19 began it all with shortened business hours and social distancing which limits the number of people allowed inside each agency. It also caused scads of people to put off renewing because of virus induced cases of Agoraphobia. Now that the vaccines have arrived and flat out desperation has set in the fear has been overwhelmed by those, who like myself, understand we've become moving traffic violations.
In addition there is a mad rush to secure the federally mandated Real ID by October of this year. By then you'll need one in order to fly the friendly skies So even the people with valid licenses are thrown into the mix, because--you know--driving to Honolulu for that much anticipated holiday vacation isn't really an option.
Finally, according to a least two different agencies I've dealt with there are software problems and glitches in the new programs meant to issue DL's and the Real ID's which have slowed processing times to a crawl. According to one tag agency web site once you do get to the head of the line, the wait is 15 minutes, "if the software is up and running." The site declined to speculate on how long it would take if the system was down.
Such cautions are a tad less than confidence inspiring. However the real problem remains getting to the head of the fucking line in the first place.
The insanity is so rampant two of the agencies I've contacted curtly informed me they no longer issue any sort of Ids at all. They will sell you new car tags and process your auto's title and registration, but if you want a new DL hit the road, Jack.
Broadway Tag in the suburb of Edmond takes walk ins between the hours of 8:30 and 10:30am only. Once the witching hour hits they stop and go to reservations only. The last time I showed up there the walk in line began forming at 7am. They take reservations for the following week exclusively on line at 5pm on Fridays. When I tried to book the mad dash for a spot was so severe their web site crashed about four minutes after it opened up.
The results were similar with the Northside Tag Agency in Oklahoma City. They take reservations at 9am every morning for the next day.
My favorite place though is the Village Tag Agency, also in OKC. To get a reservation for the following week you have to show up in line before 8:30am on the prior Wednesday. They charge $10, cash, or check only, just to book the reservation.
Who says capitalism isn't great?
Despite the scam I showed up there at 7:45 last Wednesday. There was already around 100 people in line. I took one look then drove to a bagel shop about a block away. The bagel with cream cheese and a coffee cost me less than six bucks.
Yes, and there are actually people complaining how difficult it is booking the shots. They're all weak. Tell those two bit whiners to come to Oklahoma for a driver license renewal. Then they'll understand what chaos and frustration really is.
sic vita est
3-31-21
Sounds like gloating, I know, but getting a Real ID here in Kansas took minimal effort and was very easy. I hope this facet of my adopted state can rub off on my home state.
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