Pavalock opposes bill to toughen driver's license renewals

Press release from Republican state House candidate Cara Pavalock:

Pavalock Opposes Proposed Law Regarding Driver’s Licenses.

(Bristol) Cara Pavalock, the Republican candidate for State Representative in the 77th Assembly District today announced that she is opposing a bill that would require anyone holding a Connecticut Drivers License to take a written test at the time of renewal.

The proposed law recently had a public hearing at the State Capitol.  The bill (RSB-335) has been referred to the General Assembly’s Transportation Committee and was sponsored by House Committee Chairman Antonio Guerrera (D-Rocky Hill).

The text of the raised bill is below:

(NEW) (g) (1) On and after January 1, 2016, a licensee seeking renewal of a motor vehicle operator's license shall be required to pass a comprehensive test as to knowledge of the laws concerning motor vehicles and the rules of the road. If such licensee does not pass such knowledge test on the first attempt, such licensee shall be required to pass an on-the-road skills test, as prescribed by the commissioner, in addition to such knowledge test.

“This proposed law is ridiculous and creates an undue burden on our Senior Citizen population.” Pavalock continued, “Our state has incurred a massive amount of debt, unemployment is high, businesses and families are fleeing Connecticut and our General Assembly is wasting its time debating issues like this.”

Pavalock’s opposition stems from what she believes will be cost of implementing this proposal and the intrusion it will have on Connecticut drivers and citizens. “Has anyone who supports this bill ever stood in line at a motor vehicle office?” Pavalock asked.

“The implementation of this proposal would create longer lines, increase the need for more staff, and more importantly add more regulations to our already cumbersome motor vehicle laws,” Pavalock continued, “I would suggest that the Transportations Committee’s time would be better spent debating how it would erase the daily gridlock on I-84 through both Hartford and Waterbury, rather than spend it precious time increasing the cost of government.”

“I sincerely hope that my opponent in November, incumbent State Representative Christopher Wright (D-77) will join me in opposing this bill and let the people of his district know now where he stands on this issue.,” Pavalock continued, “We need less government, more common sense and a legislature that is focused on reducing spending and creating jobs for its citizens.”

Copyright 2014 All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

DMV made a mistake

This just in, from the Department of Motor Vehicles:

A DMV employee on Saturday - when the administrative offices were closed - mistakenly advised Mr. Collins that a reporter could not walk around the public area of the building to speak to customers. I routinely receive calls from reporters and they are allowed to enter the public areas and speak to customers. There is no policy prohibiting that opportunity. While a reporter cannot walk into the secure areas where license tests are done or behind counters where employees process transactions, they can enter the public areas or hang out in the parking lot to take still pictures or video, or speak to customers. We are reminding our staff today about it. We apologize for that mistaken information.

Bill Seymour
Director of Communicaton
Department of Motor Vehicles

And that is that. I knew the 'policy' made no sense. I'm glad to see that it's not even the policy.

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Kicking out the press

Inside the New Britain DMV office yesterday were more than 140 people clutching numbers and waiting for their turn at the counter. Most of them were sitting in little waiting areas -- not bad for a government office but still excruciating.

I met one guy who'd been there for three hours already, waiting for his turn at the counter.

I talked to a few people, who were pretty nice, before a fellow walked up to me, identified himself as the manager and asked me if I was a reporter.

I said yes.

He said that he was sorry, but that the Department of Motor Vehicles doesn't allow reporters inside their buildings to wander around talking to people.

I couldn't believe it, since the people inside were just sitting there, bored out of their minds, but I didn't quarrel with him.

I told him I understood it wasn't his rule and that I'd take it up with the DMV on Monday.

Let's consider this for a second, though: There I am in an office slated for closure, talking to the people who use it and I'm booted out?

It's not as if I was interfering with the operations of the place, or even bothering anybody. This isn't the sort of story that I'm going to get in someone's face and insist that they tell all. If they wanted to talk, fine. If they didn't, fine. I just moved on, quietly and respectfully. That's usually how I am anyway.

Why would there be a policy -- a potentially unconstitutional one, by the way -- to limit access to a public waiting area in a public building?

I can't wait to hear the rationale for it.

Given that the state constitution specifically says that "no law shall ever be passed to curtail or restrain the liberty of speech or of the press" I'm particularly eager to hear how throwing reporters out of the DMV waiting rooms isn't a restraint on the press.

It strikes me as yet another example of government prefering to do its work as far from prying eyes as possible.

In this case, it's simply nuts, since everyone I talked with had kind words for the employees, no real problems with the DMV and as far as I could see, the New Britain office was humming along efficiently. It was just mobbed.

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Why the New Britain DMV office?

The state targeted the Department of Motor Vehicles office in New Britain for a number of reasons, according to Michael Cicchetti, deputy director of the Office of Policy and Management.

Cicchetti said Saturday the office was picked for closure because it is leased rather than owned, which means the state can save on rent if it’s not open.

It is also reasonably close to the full service offices in Wethersfield and Waterbury, he said, along with AAA offices in West Hartford and Plainville that provide some of the services.

Moreover, Cicchetti said, more of the DMV’s business will be able to be done online soon, necessitating fewer trips to the actual offices.

Registration by mail and longer times between license renewals have already helped cut down on the use, he said.

Because of those factors, Cicchetti said, officials thought the New Britain DMV could be closed “without having a huge impact on service.”

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Pushing to keep the New Britain DMV on the road

On Saturday morning, more than 140 people packed the Department of Motor Vehicles office on North Mountain Road in New Britain, clutching numbers and waiting impatiently for their turn at the counter to register cars, renew driver’s licenses and a host of other bureaucratic hassles.
“It’s no fun,” said Shelby Moynihan of Southington, “but sometimes you have to come here.”
If Gov. Jodi Rell has her way, though, the 11-year-old DMV office that attracts more than 160,000 people a year will be shuttered soon in a bid to close an $8 billion budget gap that has flummoxed state decision-makers and left Connecticut’s next spending plan on the drawing table as the June 30 fiscal year deadline approaches.
Democratic legislators, including the speaker of the state House, spoke outside the DMV office Saturday to protest Rell’s plans.
Shutting down the office “might save money,” said New Britain resident Francis Gialluca, “but they’ll put people out of work and make it very inconvenient” for residents of Central Connecticut who need to go to the DMV.
“I don’t even know which is the closest one” if New Britain’s office is shuttered, said Davey Murdock of Bristol, who was among those waiting in line to get a number so he could wait again to be called to the counter.
Paul Kay of Bristol said he suspects he’ll have to go to already busy DMV offices in Waterbury or Wethersfield.
“You might as well bring a picnic lunch and plan on being here all day” if that happens, Kay said. “It’s just going to pack ‘em in.”
House Speaker Chris Donovan of Meriden said the New Britain DMV office is the fourth busiest in the state. It is one of 10 full service DMV locations. There are also four satellite offices.
“Closing it is the wrong move,” Donovan said, adding that the governor’s proposal “is ill-conceived.”
“This is so, so important,” said state Rep. Betty Boukus, a Plainville Democrat whose 22nd District reaches into both Bristol and New Britain. “We definitely need to get together and make sure this doesn’t happen.”
The proposed move is “an outrageous and un-thought out cut,” said state Rep. John Gerogosian, a New Britain Democrat who represents the 25th District.
“I’m not going to agree to irresponsible cuts that cost jobs,” Gerogosian said.
State Rep. Tim O’Brien, a New Britain Democrat who represents the 24th District, said the governor’s effort to shut down the DMV office is in keeping with her targeting of services that help poor and middle class residents rather than seeking a small tax hike on the wealthy.
Chris Cooper, a spokesman for Rell, said the governor recognizes that the cuts she’s seeking “are painful, but they’re necessary” in order to avoid tax hikes on residents and businesses that would contribute even more to the economic woes facing the state.
Cooper said that “most people would rather drive a couple extra miles” to a DMV office if that’s what it takes to preserve the property tax credit and hold off tax increases.
State Rep. Peter Tercyak, a New Britain Democrat who represents the 26th District, said he’s not sure what the logic could be for taking aim at New Britain’s DMV office when it’s always so busy.
“It’s another thing they want to take away from New Britain. The state regards New Britain as a non-city,” said Gialluca. “Why should they close it?”
Cooper said he didn’t have any information about why Rell targeted the New Britain office rather than another one elsewhere in the state. It was probably based on regional considerations, he said.
A DMV manager told a reporter that he could not question anyone inside the building because of departmental policy and asked him to go outside.

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com