The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Outsourcing more DMV services is a worthy idea
Some drivers will say that anything to help reduce time spent at the state Department of Motor Vehicles is a good thing, but Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s proposed legislation to outsource more services provided by the DMV is causing jitters among union officia
The governor has introduced legislation that would allow a third party to offer vehicle registrations. The bill also includes postponing issuing titles for boats and other vessels until 2018 to free up staff and lets people who have overdue property taxes and parking fines register their vehicles, which is intended to cut down on duplicative trips to branch offices.
Malloy says allowing some services to be outsourced will help eliminate and cut down on mistakes caused by the recent $25 million upgrade to DMV computer systems. The rollout of the upgraded system has been disastrous and the agency has been plagued with problems that ultimately led to the resignation of Commissioner Andres Ayala last month.
Malloy says the government must find ways to improve customer service and his proposal is a commonsense measure to enhance flexibility and offer busy Connecticut residents options.
But Malloy is running into resistance from union officials who call the proposal a waste of taxpayer dollars and point to the software upgrade, calling it an “outsourcing disaster” and a “terrible failure.”
Lori Pelletier, president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, said “state workers can do it right the first time and for less money.”
But drivers who spend hours waiting in line to conduct business at the DMV probably could not care less about who is providing the service as much as whether it can be provided efficiently and expeditiously. The answer to that right now is a resounding no.
Malloy isn’t the only governor seeking to outsource government work as budgets tighten and officials think outside the box to improve services and save money.
According to the America Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, at least 18 states outsource some of their DMV services and at least 10 states outsource driving tests for licenses to private companies.
Allowing the state to enter into contracts with private contractors — such as AAA, which already provides non-commericial driver’s license services — will reduce frustration at DMV branches, allow people to get things done more quickly and relieve stress levels for overworked DMV employees and cusot-mers.
It’s hard to argue with that.
The bill, “An Act Decreasing Wait Times at the Department of Motor Vehicles,” is now in the hands of the legislature’s Transportation Committee. Hopefully, lawmakers have been among those standing in line at the DMV and will put the pedal to the metal on this one.
“Malloy says allowing some services tobe outsourced will help eliminate and cut down on mistakes caused by the recent $25million upgrade to DMV computer systems.”