Auntie Mame Strikes Again: My MASS DMV Adventure

Turns out even though my CA driver's license doesn't expire for three years I won't be able to vote or get health insurance in Massachusetts until my actual address (MA) and license (CA) match. Since I don't have a permanent address in CA I was left with one option - a trip to the DMV for a photo id of some kind. As far as I can tell at trip to the Dept of Motor Vehicles is unpleasant in any state but MA seems to have a long standing bad reputation. To start with they are not a Department - they are a Registry which just sounds sinister to me. Then I found out they only offer on-line appointments in one office in the whole state. Every other office is a 'fill out the paperwork on line, arrive, and wait, and wait, and wait...' system.

Living on Cape Cod I had three offices to choose from #1 Plymouth which required a drive north over the bridge and off Cape. #2 Yarmouthport here on the Cape but with summer traffic a longer drive than Plymouth that will make you want to slit your wrists even before you get to the DMV. #3 Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard Island. Average wait time, according to the online info, in Plymouth 1 hour; in Yarmouthport 1hour, 45 mins; in Edgartown 30 mins. I batted my eyelashes at Dad and persuaded him to take me over on the boat to save the Ferry fare. It worked!

Due to tides and a bit of threatening weather we left our dock this morning at 7am. Mom & Dad dropped me off at the Oak Bluffs harbormaster dock around 7:40am. I caught the up-island bus ($1) at 8am which dropped me off just outside the airport industrial park where the RMV office was. I walked less than a 1/4 mile and saw this lovely little sign...

I turned left into the parking lot and was taken back by the FLURRY of ACTIVITY

NOT!

See the bus at the end of the parking lot? It's a Vineyard Transit Authority bus awaiting service. The cars on the left were VTA employees. The lone car on the right was from New Jersey. See the non-existent mile long line of frustrated RMV customers lined up outside and around the building???!!! And it get's better!

New Jersey was registering a boat or trailer so she could haul something home. I got my required computer generated RMV ticket (#B200) even though I was the only one in the lobby. When NJ was done the computer announced "Now serving B200 at counter 1." There was only one counter. While the single employee put my info into the computer I asked if I could use the restroom. She said sure so I left all my stuff - bag, wallet, info, etc on the counter and walked 10 feet to the individual, spotless women's room. Here's the best part - the toilet paper end had been folded up in a fan shape like you get at good hotels!!!!

When I came out I got my choice of three photos and was out of the office with my temp license. According to the computer ticket I had clocked in at 8:29am and, by my watch, was walking back to the bus stop at 8:45am! The bus down island turned out to be $2 but who cares I was back at the dock by 9:15am or so. Mom, Dad and I celebrated my success by floating down to Vineyard Haven where Mom and I jumped off the boat to pick up bagels and drinks at the Black Dog Bakery. Then we all puttered over to a lagoon and lazed about. Mom and Dad took a swim. We were back at our dock by 12noon ready for lunch.

I wish you all such a pleasant, quick, relaxing and pure joy filled trip the next time you have to go to your local DMV/RMV. Or you can just move to the Cape - Dad might be persuaded to take you over to the Vineyard.

Here's a few more pics of the Cape for those of you who want to know what it's like.....