New director: DMV will be changing

Friday, May 12, 2000 | 11:09 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Changes are in store for the troubled state Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety, says Washoe County Sheriff Richard Kirkland, who takes over as director at the end of this month.

Kirkland said Thursday his task is not to preside over the status quo.

"The governor brought me in as a change agent," he said.

Kirkland wants to try a pilot program that would allow the public to make appointments to register their cars or get a driver's license rather than standing in line for hours.

There is no money in the state budget to construct new buildings so there may be extended hours to accommodate citizens. A reasonable wait may be 30-45 minutes, Kirkland said.

The department may bring in part-time workers or employees who retired from the agency to work a limited time each week to help reduce the waiting time.

Already started is the program to allow motorists in Clark and Washoe counties to register their vehicles when they get their smog tests. There is one station open each in Las Vegas and Reno to accommodate the registrations.

Kirkland said three more stations will be opened in Clark County in the next month. The program allowing motorists to renew their registration over the Internet is getting started.

Two weeks ago, Kirkland said Gov. Kenny Guinn's Chief of Staff Scott Scherer became the first person to renew a vehicle registration online.

Of the renewal registrations mailed out each day, 1,000 people will be notified how they can re-register their car if it is a simple transaction. They will be given a personal identification number and directions on how to transact business.

The test period will go through May 31, and the Internet renewal will then be available for all state drivers.

Re-registering an auto over the telephone will start May 16. The department will include instructions in the mail when the registration notice goes out.

Kirkland, in a speech to a group of state public administrators, said that state agencies must give better customer service.

Kirkland also said he favors a recommendation to split the department into separate agencies -- one for motor vehicles and one for public safety.

Guinn's task force on government has suggested the split, which has been considered several times in the past by the Legislature but never passed.

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