Lawmakers updated on progress, problems with DMV computer

Brendan Riley

Wednesday, Nov. 17, 1999 | 10:12 a.m.

CARSON CITY - A new DMV computer program that caused big delays for Nevada drivers when it was turned on two months ago is operating much better now and is about to go up in cost.

That was the report Tuesday on Project Genesis, which has been handling driver licensing and vehicle registration since Sept. 7.

"We're getting back to business as usual," Deputy DMV Director Ginny Lewis told a legislative subcommittee chaired by Assemblyman Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas. The subcommittee is reviewing the Department of Motor Vehicle and Public Safety's program.

People are no longer waiting in line for several hours and the DMV is looking ahead to enhancements such as Internet license renewals by late April, Lewis said. The agency processed about 40,000 new vehicle registrations last month, up from 35,000 in October 1998.

Lewis also said the lawmakers' Interim Finance Committee will be asked Wednesday to approve another $500,000 for more technical advice from Deloitte & Touche Consulting, which designed and built the Genesis system and is still helping to remove the bugs.

With the additional funds, the cost of the project will be nearly $34 million. Most of that already has been budgeted and $14 million has actually been spent.

Assemblywoman Vonne Chowning, D-North Las Vegas, said DMV deserves credit for its efforts to make Genesis work. She said, however, that she's still getting reports of people waiting 2 1/2 hours in line for services that had taken 20 minutes.

That makes it difficult "to be gleeful and joyous," she said.

Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, said he wants an explanation at the subcommittee's next meeting on why Deloitte was picked in the first place, adding "they didn't seem to be the best qualified."

While license renewals are in good shape, Lewis said DMV workers are still trying to catch up on vehicle registration renewals and title changes.

Lewis also said insurance verification efforts have been delayed, although a big batch of verification letters will be sent out in the next few days.

She also conceded there are still problems and complaints related to complex transactions, such as businesses that want to register several vehicles at a time.

Critics include Sonja Pack, who owns Motor Vehicle Title Services in Carson City. She said the limit of three titles at a time per customer is hurting her business.

Lewis responded that DMV clerks have been authorized to handle more than three title changes at a time if the paperwork can be handled within a half-hour.

On a non-Genesis subject that also caused controversy, Lewis said the agency is rewording a question about the mental health of drivers who renew licenses by mail.

The DMV forms ask drivers seeking renewals to check "yes" or "no" to the question "have you suffered from or are you under a doctor's care" for a mental or emotional disorder. The form then asks that "yes" answers be explained.

A similar question will still be asked in order to screen out mentally unstable drivers, but the DMV "will soften how it is asked," Lewis told the subcommittee.

Mental health professionals argued the query is intrusive and beyond what DMV needs.