DMV Lines

I read in disbelief your editorial, “It’s a Breeze” (Sept. 2). Although my wife and I were serviced by the same Department of Motor Vehicles located on South Hope Street, we had a largely different experience.

My wife and I went to the DMV several days ago on our lunch break to obtain her driver’s permit. We were careful to make our appointment for a time when we could both go and still be back to work in a timely manner. Making an appointment proved to be moot; we stood in line with everyone else. This includes a line with a large sign labeled “Start Here” where we were promptly told to fill out a form and then stand in line 9 or 10a or b. We were never given any information that would lead us to believe that appointments have some special priority.

The lines are long, the line numbering system is confusing, the tellers are discourteous, and in spite of my attempts to circumvent the bureaucracy by holding a place in line which my wife would move to next, we were in line for 90 minutes.

I looked around to see many long faces. If someone at The Times had a pleasant experience at the DMV, please do not misconstrue this to be a frequent occurrence.

WILLIAM W. WEBB

Reseda