DMV to expand uses for kiosks

By Cy Ryan

Monday, Aug. 15, 2011 | 2:48 p.m.

Department of Motor Vehicles kiosks will soon allow motorists to renew vehicle registrations and in the future might be used for other uses such as hunting licenses and paying traffic tickets.

There are 27 kiosks in Nevada -- located mostly in grocery stores -- which allow the public to avoid waiting in line at DMV offices. Another 40 kiosks will be rolled out in the spring, most of them in Las Vegas.

DMV Director Bruce Breslow told the state Board of Examiners today that the department is looking for other uses for the kiosks beyond driver's license renewals, including issuing hunting licenses or payment of traffic tickets. Breslow is also hoping to add the ability for military veterans to get their exemptions rather than going to the county offices and to promote organ donations.

The kiosks currently provide vehicle registrations and driving records. Until now the state has been picking up the cost of each transaction. Now, the motorist will pay a $3 fee to conduct business on a kiosk. Breslow says that will save the state highway fund $27.5 million over a 10-year period.

The Board of Examiners approved the department's contract with Intellectual Technology Inc. to operate the system.

In other business, the board recommended the legislative Interim Finance Committee allocate $539,137 to reimburse the counties for holding the special election on Sept. 13 to fill Nevada's vacant seat in the House of Representatives.

The board approved a $5 million settlement from highway funds for condemnation of 31.5 acres for a section of the new segment of the I-580 freeway between Reno and Carson City.

Sandoval questioned the $800,000 in attorney fees going to the Michael Chapman law firm in Carson City. He said it seemed excessive. But Deputy Attorney General Norman Allen said the settlement avoided a three-day trial.