Getting around

My 19-year-old car passed both mechanical and emissions inspection yesterday. Which means I can renew registration here in the Old Dominion.

That’s because I can do that online. Getting a driver’s license, now—that’s a whole other thing. I have to get one because my California license expires at month’s end. (Turns out that California has automatically extended licenses for anyone due for expiration until the end of the year, but I have no confidence that local LEOs will listen to that if I’m stopped for anything.)

With no indication at all on their website, the Virginia DMV has moved to an appointment-only system. And you have to check each of the [open—because at least half the ones in Northern Virginia have been closed] offices for availability. You can’t just search for openings across the site; you have to do each one. Individually. And let me assure you that most of them have no availability until November.

Also—the one, single non-tollfree number for the entire state is basically answered by a recording stating that they’re too busy to talk with you. Last Monday I finally got through and talked with a chick called Emily, who could only give me information about how the appointment system worked; she couldn’t tell me anything about documentation required or even verify an appointment. She did put me on hold to check with a supervisor about my expiring California license.

According to Emily’s supervisor, the Old Dominion will view any out-of-state license as valid for one year after expiration “during these challenging times”.

Well, I’m going with that, then.

I have an appointment for 28 September, in Arlington. If you don’t hear from me after that, check the news for “incidents” in the environs.