Teenage drivers, state parks could receive new funds

Q Back in the

’70’s, school buses picked up our kids and delivered them safely to our public schools. Now our grandkids are shuttled by their parents and grandparents by car. This creates considerable traffic congestion and adds to air pollution. I believe this is one of the unintended consequences of our Prop. 13 property tax revolt. This certainly hasn’t improved the quality of life for our children, parents and grandparents.

— Harold Brown, Sunnyvale

A

Many may agree, but there is a bill pending in Sacramento to address this. A measure by Sen. Josh Newman (D-Fullerton) would allow drivers to choose the photo which goes on their state driver’s license. SB 1407 would allow drivers to select from three photos with a $5 charge assessed for additional photos and the money used for driver education and training programs in public schools.

The lack of driver education in the public school system can be costly. Anyone seeking to earn his or her license before 17 years, 6 months must use private driving schools for training at a cost around $300.

And Sen. Newman’s has another DMV idea. SB 1189 would allow sports fans to order a license plate with their favorite team’s logo, trademark or emblem with money used for our 270 state parks. California sports license plates would generate approximately $380,000 for every 10,000 plates issued.

Go Dubs!

Q

I tried for three weeks to get an appointment at a DMV office at about nine places. So as a last gasp effort, I went to my local DMV without an appointment. The line at 10 a.m. was about 50 people long. It took more than 21/2 hours to get my foot into the door. Then the wait began.

At 4:30 p.m. they stopped administering tests. After nine hours, I walked out having to come back to take the test the next day. During the long wait, one woman got so upset with the wait, she was trying to start a riot and the police had to be called. This is a serious mess.

Please warn people to get an appointment and don’t wait until the last minute. But even then, the people with appointments had a long wait also.

— Lois Bookman, Los Gatos

A A good tip, and here’s another:

Q For about $50 a year you can get AAA road service. This allows you to use the AAA DMV service. I renewed my daughter’s registration and registered a newly purchased vehicle in about 15 minutes. No appointment, and they gave me coffee while I was waiting three minutes for the next clerk.

— Mike Van

A Free coffee is the clincher. Remember, the DMV will begin offering Saturday service beginning this week in 40 offices from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.