Trip to Los Gatos DMV office proves far from stress-free

QAfter reading about the “stress-free DMV experience” in your column earlier this summer, I thought I would keep a rescheduled Real ID appointment.

I entered the

Los Gatos DMV office wearing safety glasses and a mask. I had a Clorox wipe in my hand, but no gloves. I used the same keyboard that others had used and there was no way to clean it before use.

I was instructed to wait to be called up to a window.

Another 40 minutes passed. By then, my Clorox wipe was dry. I gave my thumbprint through two different machines that were not cleaned, used another pen to sign documents and finally exited the building over an hour after I had arrived, feeling exhausted and quite frightened by my experience.

The DMV staff were helpful. They had masks on and although they had access to sanitizers, shields, etc., customers did not and no one was disinfecting equipment. Customers often leaned on counters, which were not being sanitized, and did not provide a good social distance between customers and staff.

If you must go to a DMV office, take gloves, masks, protective eyewear, hand sanitizers, disinfectant wipes and pens to stay safe.

— Jo RAinie, Los GAtos

AYes, and now there are more changes in place to make a trip to the DMV safer.

Customers will have their temperatures checked and those with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher will be rescheduled.

DMV employees will be screened before each shift, and those with temperatures above 100.4 will be sent home

All employees must wear protective equipment including face masks, and maintain physical distancing.

They have access to disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, gloves, face shields and soap and water.

Customer hand-washing stations are available. Customers are required to wear a face covering and remain 6 feet apart.

If you want the screen disinfected, just ask.

QMy license is up for renewal and I would like to get a Real ID, but I’m afraid I might catch the coronavirus if I had to take off my mask to have a photo taken. If they require me to take off my mask, then I’ll just have to renew online, get an ordinary license and deal with the consequences later.

— Connie Reed,

SAn Jose

AHomeland Security requires individuals applying for a Real ID to visit an office and get a new photograph. Remember, a Real ID is optional.

You can use a U.S. passport or other federally approved identity document to fly within the United States.

If you are under 69 and want to renew your existing license, you can do that online.

If 70 or older, and your license expires between now and December, it is automatically extended for one year.

Look for GAry RichArds At FAcebook.com/ mr.roAdshow or contAct him At mrroAdshow@ bAyAreAnewsgroup.com or 408-920-5335.