Ask the Mayor: Why Two Lines at the DMVL?

Lahaina DMVL, file photo courtesy County of Maui.

Mayor Alan Arakawa answers some of the questions submitted to his staff.

Submit your own questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa at AskTheMayor@mauicounty.gov, 270-7855 or mail them to 200 S. High Street, 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793.

Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the “Ask the Mayor” column.

Aloha Mayor Arakawa,

Q. I was down at the Kahului DMV to renew my registration recently and didn’t understand why I had to wait in two different lines. I walked in, pulled a number and waited to be called. The first time my number was called I had to see a girl sitting by herself at a desk by the entrance. She looked at my paperwork and gave me a second number. I had to wait again and this time when my number was called I went to the counter where all the workers are located and paid for my new registration. It didn’t take that long and everyone was very polite and professional, but wouldn’t it be faster just to pull one number and wait in one line?

A. In your case, it might have been faster, since it sounds like you had a simple transaction. But the reason for the first line is to screen customers’ requests in case they need to go home and get other paperwork that they didn’t bring with them. In some

In some cases, people wait until their vehicle registration expires and they have to go and get a safety inspection before they can renew their registration. The screening counter would have caught that.

There are many other examples of how this makes the entire process more efficient. You might need to clear up a traffic ticket or bring your insurance up to date before you come see the county for your registration.

And by the way, it’s the DMVL—Division of Motor Vehicles and Licensing. The DMV is a popular abbreviation for our division but it’s not accurate.

In any case, the two-step screening process works well and I believe it saves our customers a lot of time. I’m glad it’s set up that way.