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[disnut8]

Our local oldies radio station did a huge April Fool joke today.  Fortunately, I kind of realized what was going on.

The idiotic Georgia legislature waited until yesterday to rush a ton of bills through since their session ended at midnight on March 31.  That much is very true.

One of the things that got through late was a requirement that you need to show one of six approved government forms of IDs in order to vote.  In the past, you could show something as simple at a utility bill in your name with a Georgia address on it, and you could vote.  Needless to say, this led to some pretty shady voting.  That much is very true as well.

The DJs on the radio station informed their listeners this morning that right before the midnight deadline, the legislature also passed that every one in the state of Georgia had to go and get their driver's license photos retaken.  Right now, you have the option of using your same picture even if you renew after the first four years.  You can keep the picture for a total of eight years.  We were told that the pictures had to be retaken by August 1st.

Now, understand just how difficult it is to get your driver's license in this state.  You literally have to stand in a line for almost a full day to initially get your license.  Anytime you have to visit a license station, it's an adventure.  It's an extremely flawed system.

The whole "have to have your picture retaken" thing was the joke.

The calls that came in!  The DJs even went further and said that each county would have a different background for the photos.  And for the listeners to call in with their suggestions.  About halfway to work, I realized the joke.

It was like "War of the Worlds" Atlanta style.

[Supermercado]

Number 1 rule on April 1st... if it sounds weird, it is. The DMV here is pretty bad, too. Maybe not a full day's worth of bad, but several hours' worth at least.

[Catfish]

DMV in NJ is either get there and wait for it to open or don't go.

[Supermercado]

It was never bad in Nebraska from my experience. I don't know why it's so bad here in Columbia.

[elmono311]

The BMV isn't bad in Ohio, either

[disnut8]

The former governor in Georgia was on his way to fixing the DMV mess here.  He instituted an appointment system for getting your initial license.  That's the only way I got mine.  I literally passed people who were waiting in line since 7:00 AM.  I believe my appointment was at 2:00 PM and I was out of there by 4:00.  Also, you could renew your license at Kroger grocery stores.  No need to go to the license bureau for a new picture.

That governor was voted out.  This one blamed budget cuts and got rid of the appointment system and all of the renewal locations.  The only way to renew now is in person or a one time via internet.  In four years, RichN and I will have to endure a trip to the license bureau for renewals.

There just aren't enough places to get your drivers license here.  And most people don't realize that you don't have to go to your county's bureau.  So the ones located in the high population areas are mobbed.  Go out to goat farm territory and you're fine.  But add to the fact that the places only operate Monday-Friday 9-5 and you have the average Joe screwed in trying to get in and out during work time.  Plus, 3/4 of the people trying to get licenses don't speak English and the clerks dealing with them aren't the nicest people in the world.  War zones are friendlier.

[Supermercado]

Wow, it'd be nice to be able to renew your license at Kroger. I only know of one Kroger right around here, but that's one more location and every one helps.

Same thing with the counties around here. The one that we're "supposed" to go to simply because it's closest is always mobbed. I think my dad has gone to the one in Camden the past few times that he's had to go. Our licenses are all up for renewal this year, so I imagine that's where we'll be going. Camden is much less populated than northeast Columbia.