The long battle for a simple driver’s license

Ibegan the battle to get my driver’s license renewed around April 3. I went to MVD Express because I thought it would be faster. There was hardly a seat left. After more than an hour, my name was called and I went to the booth with what I thought were all the necessary documents: birth certificate (in French — I was born in Paris), Social Security card, expired passport (to prove citizenship) and proof of domicile. I was told they didn’t read French documents and the expired passport was not valid, though I, myself, and my citizenship had not expired.

Luckily, I found a copy of my naturalization papers and returned expectantly to MVD Express. After another hour of waiting, everything was fine, except that my naturalization papers contained my two middle names, whereas my Social Security card had only my first and last names. For half an hour they tried to have their computer solve the problem, but couldn’t. But they thought the MVD might be able to do so.

The next day, I went to the MVD. No dice, the discrepancy in names was fatal. I was urged to go to a Social Security office to get a name change that would include my two middle names. I asked where such an office was, and was told it was on Second Street, right off St. Michael’s Drive. I asked for the exact address, but they didn’t have it.

I was driving home on St. Michael’s but found no Second Street. I went home, Googled “Social Security” and found it was on Fifth Street, not Second Street. I went there, waited over an hour and explained my case. The local office could not add my two middle names, I was told, it had to go to through headquarters. That would take four to six weeks.

I then decided to abandon trying to get a driver’s license and apply for a driver’s authorization card instead, even though it was not good for all sorts of things, including flying. I went back to MVD Express, but was told I needed to be fingerprinted (with no reason given). I asked if they did that, and they answered, “No,” I would have to go to the MVD for that.

So I went to the Motor Vehicle Division and was told I needed fingerprinting because, after all that, my license had expired (on April 23). This was April 25. Furthermore I was told that they didn’t fingerprint; it would take an appointment. “So, what am I to do, drive illegally?” I asked the clerk. She answered, “No, you just have to stop driving until I get a valid document.” She gave me a sheet with a phone number to call to get an appointment for fingerprinting.

I went home and called that number. I got a recorded message that I should call again. No staying on the line or on hold. I must have dialed that number maybe 60 times before finally a human answered. He said he could make an appointment for me at the state Motor Vehicle Division in Albuquerque. Rather incredulously, I asked if I couldn’t use a Santa Fe facility. I live in Santa Fe. No such facility exists, I was told. So I made an appointment for 1:15 p.m., Friday, April 28. Since I couldn’t drive, my wife drove me. So once there, I gave all my documents and went to get fingerprinted. Well, I’m 86 years old and my fingerprints had faded. So I was told I might have to be fingerprinted again. If it didn’t work the second time, they would check with my name, instead. In any case, it would take five working days for the fingerprints to be checked (if they could be checked). However, I was told there was, indeed, a facility in Santa Fe that would do the second fingerprinting, if necessary. You can imagine what I thought of the fellow who set up the Albuquerque appointment.

So there I was, a prisoner in my own home because I couldn’t drive, for God knows how long. But I went on the web and found out that persons whose licenses had expired had a month of grace when he/she could drive. Nobody told me that — no one at MVD Express, no one at the Motor Vehicle Division in Santa Fe, no one at the Motor Vehicle Division in Albuquerque.

There has to be something wrong with the laws, their implementation and/or the bureaucracy. Something must be done. I’m sure I’m not alone in landing in the middle of this labyrinth.

In mid-May, Carasso emailed, “Today I got an email containing a temporary driving authorization good for 60 days. The more permanent card will be mailed to me. The struggle has finally ended. Pleasantly surprised.” He also wanted to add that Monica, in particular, at the 5301 Central Ave. NE Albuquerque MVD was very empathetic and helpful. “It wasn’t all bad.”

Roger Carasso lives in Santa Fe.