Motorists Race to Beat Fee Increase
DMV overwhelmed by requests as renewal prices jump
Trying to beat the Florida DMV fee increase? Good luck.
If you were hoping to renew your Sunshine State tags or license through the DMV ASAP to beat the new increased fees which go into effect tomorrow, you may be SOL.
The fees for a new license, registration and just about everything else you need to drive in Florida are going up tomorrow, more than double in some cases, but the DMV doesn't appear to be prepared for the influx of last-minute drivers trying to beat the boost.
Drivers who were hoping to renew online today were given this unpromising message on the DMV's Website:
PLEASE NOTE: Our Virtual Office online services are experiencing intermittent outages at this time due to extraordinary demand. We apologize for the temporary inconvenience. If you would like to complete your transaction today, please visit http://www.flhsmv.gov/offices for office locations closest to you.
Unfortunately, many of those office locations in South Florida were reportedly packed to the gills, with long lines at the notoriously slow governmental agency.
Many motorists think the timing of the increase was lousy.
"Why couldn't they wait until the recession is over?" registered nurse Carolina Gonzalez asked as she waited about an hour in Miami to renew the license plate on her Nissan Sentra. "I mean, there's lots of people without jobs. This is the completely wrong time to do this to people."
First-time driver licenses are going up from $27 to $48, and six-year renewals are going from $20 to $48. And registration tags will also be hiked.
"My birthday is nowhere near, but I wanted to get this done now," said Heather Lorndono, who waited in Miami to get the tag on her Ford Escape renewed early. "I think it would be the smartest thing."
"I would like to say that it is unfair, but I can afford to pay the fees," said Hector Rodriguez, who was renewing the tag on his Toyota. "But I can see how that can affect those who are counting their pennies, and I'm sure there's a lot of people these days."
The new fees are expected to raise more than $800 million during the current budget year and about $1 billion next year.
The increase was signed into law by Gov. Charlie Crist, who said it was unfortunate but necessary given Florida's economic state.
"I'd rather not do it," Crist said. "But I understand we have to have a balanced budget, too, and it's better than raising taxes."
Copyright Associated Press / NBC 6 Miami
Posted Monday, Aug 31, 2009 - 10:56 AM EST
