Editor:
Recently, I received the dreaded letter from the Dept. of Motor Vehicles that my driver license was expiring and it was time to renew it.
I spent hours online and reading the many practice tests. I also submitted my renewal application online.
Despite the horrendous publicity about the time it takes to negotiate the DMV, I made an appointment at the Santa Monica office, where I was very pleasantly surprised.
The line for those with appointments was relatively short, and the staff greeting folks were polite and considerate. I received my number quickly and sat in the waiting room. In less than five minutes, I was at a window where my thumbprint was taken and a few questions clarified.
Then, I had my photo taken with no problems and was escorted to the dreaded computer with the test(s). In less than five minutes, I successfully passed the test and was issued my new license.
The staff at SM DMV proved to be helpful, considerate, and each had a sense of humor.
Thank you for turning this into a pleasant and relatively short experience.
Harvey D. Kern
West Los Angeles
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 6, 2018. Read the original PDF.