Internet DMV registration OK’d

Thursday, Nov. 18, 1999 | 9:47 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Plans for new technology that would allow motorists to renew their driver's licenses or car registrations by telephone or over the Internet were given a boost Wednesday.

The Legislative Interim Finance Committee gave its blessing to the plans.

John Drew, acting director of the Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety, which proposed the plans, said he hoped to have this new technology in place by the end of April. In addition, the department plans to allow vehicle emission check shops in Las Vegas and Reno to renew car registration when the driver gets the annual smog examination.

The department will spend an additional $290,000 for equipment to install in the smog testing centers and will allocate an additional $500,000 to the consulting firm of Deloitte & Touche to set up the mechanism for the telephone, Internet and smog station business.

Assemblyman Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, chairman of a legislative subcommittee studying the DMV's new Genesis computer system, said it will never be as fast as the old system. But he said the new technology would allow motorists to avoid going to the department offices.

Beers said Genesis was budgeted for $33.5 million over a period of years but so far only $26 million has been appropriated and only $14 million spent.