New DMV computer causes delays

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1999 | 10:38 a.m.

There was a traffic jam at Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety offices across the Las Vegas Valley Tuesday as the agency started up a new computer system officials hope will make long waits a thing of the past.

"Waits of five to six hours were common," Donna West of the management services and programs division of the agency, said this morning. "I haven't seen that since the late '80s when growth in the valley first started."

Many people were turned away and told to come back today. Others were given temporary driver's licenses or 10-day passes on their automobile registration.

"We will continue to work (on the computer problems) this week and next," West said.

She said the system was shut down from 8:15 to 9 a.m. today to make adjustments in the programming.

West attributed much of Tuesday's problem to so many workers using the computer system -- or trying to use it.

"We had 100 percent of our staff in all the offices, over 500 people, logged onto the system. It was slow in getting our system into the state system's main frame," she said.

She said technicians worked all night making adjustments to the system.

"We applied a lot of different fixes, we reconfigured hardware, quadrupled the size of our lines. All of that improved the performance, somewhat, this morning."

West continued to urge people not to come to the offices unless absolutely necessary.

"If you don't need to, don't come. Use the mail. There is no delay in renewal by mail," she said.

She said those who need forms should access the agency's Internet website at www.state.nv.us/dmv_ps/welcome.htm

The new computer system is part of an upgrade program called Project Genesis.