The other day I was standing in line at the MVD. As I was waiting, I was casually listening to the conversations happening to my right and left. I thought I’d share them here.
To my left.
The man to my left had just purchased a motorcycle. I gathered that the motorcycle had some sort of title issue. The MVD clerk told the man something he wasn’t expecting. With a mixture of confusion and irritation, he explained to the MVD clerk that he had called the MVD yesterday. He called in preparation for his physical trip to the MVD to make sure he had everything he would need. He didn’t want to waste his time so he reached out to the MVD to confirm he was doing the right thing.
After he offered this explanation, the MVD clerk chuckled and told him he couldn’t trust anything the MVD told him over the phone, and that is why she tells everyone to come in person rather than call. At this point, I couldn’t help but chuckle myself.
I’d be lying if I said this hasn’t been my experience too. It was amusing to hear someone at the MVD actually say it though.
To my right.
The man to my right was trying to order some vanity license plates for his new vehicle. I thought I heard him ask the MVD clerk if he could just put some plates from another vehicle on his new one while he waited for his vanity plates to arrive. I also thought I heard the clerk say that would not be a problem. Now, I wasn’t listening super carefully to this conversation, so I’m hoping I misunderstood. If I heard correctly though, this MVD clerk just advised a driver to commit a misdemeanor criminal violation known as displaying a fictitious plate.
I don’t think there are any lessons here, other than set your expectations low when you are dealing with government administrative bodies.
Fortunately, the MVD clerk I was speaking to was extremely helpful and friendly, and she provided some very useful information.