Published: Monday, July 2, 2007
Computer troubles at DVM irks motorists
There's always a rush of customers at the end of a month, a spokesman said.
CLEVELAND (AP) — A rush of motorists looking to renew their driver's licenses caused computers to slow down or crash at the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, creating long lines at offices statewide.
Frustrated drivers on Friday and Saturday stood in lines that spilled out onto sidewalks at some Northeast Ohio offices. People whose licenses were about to expire and could not renew because of the computer glitches were given letters allowing them to drive legally for seven days.
"They should have had a backup," said John DiMichele of Cleveland, who showed up at a Parma office to get license plates.
Rush of customers
The agency typically gets a rush of customers at the end of a month — people who wait until the last possible day to renew a license that's about to expire, said Tom Hunter, a spokesman for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
But the crush was made worse by people who wanted to get their errands taken care of before the holiday week and the unusual computer problems, he said.
"It was a kind of perfect storm for us," Hunter said.
Hunter said the agency's computer system has experienced problems in the past, occasionally crashing or slowing down for an hour or two, but nothing like this.
Technicians were working over the weekend to fix and upgrade the system, which should be back to normal today at all 216 deputy registrars' offices, Hunter said.
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
More Stories from Thu, Jul 5, 2007
- Sunnis tie up oil law in Iraq
- Hundreds take oath while serving in Iraq
- Take precautions outside to avoid or trap pesky ticks
- Ohio
- Brazilian judge cancels Live Earth concert in Rio
- Deal to bring Chinese cars into America
- 40-mile bike trail falling into disrepair
- Elyria man opens a BB gun shooting range for children
