After 3 hours, I made it home from my trip to the County Government Office and the DMV. At the tax office, I started off in the wrong line, only to be told I had to take a number and wait for the one other person that was helping people. My number was 45. They were on #93. I was confused, so I asked the lady and she said when they got to 99 the numbers started over at 1. Ouch!
So, I took a seat amongst the antsy children and their cell-phone clad chatty parents, black ladies in Sunday go-to-meetin’ hats, and a WWII Vet who had no hands, and watched the numbers slowly click by. I was amazed that some people had abandoned their space in line, but it made the numbers go by quicker. Where did those people go? Did they just give up and leave? Was the take-a-tab machine out of whack? After an hour, it was my time. After showing the title to my car, I got a piece of paper saying I didn’t owe any taxes to the state of Missouri. Then, I was off to the DMV.
At the DMV, I was second in line. Yes!! There were two operators helping people, and a nice lady in the corner renewing licenses. After only about 15 minutes, I sat down with a bored looking pubescent teen girl who gave me the cold shoulder. I could tell by the look on her face she loved her job. With all my papers in order, I wrote a check for $938 dollars and got the new plates for my car. Then, I went to the line to get my license.
“You need to change residency and get a Missouri license?”
“Yep.”
“You need your birth certificate.”
“Yep. Got it.”
“Social Security card?”
“Check.”
“Proof of insurance?”
“Check.”
“Your old license?”
“Check.”
“Proof of residency?”
“Got that too. I think I have everything you need.”
“Take a seat.”
When it was my turn, I emptied all the contents on the counter, answered a few questions, took a one line eye test, and had to identify 5 road signs. Those were easy because I had overheard two people before me having to identify the same signs. I would have passed the first four easily…Stop, Merge, No Left Turn, No U-Turn. The last one gave the other two people trouble. It was Do Not Enter. But I got it right thanks to them! ;-> Wrote another check for 20 bucks and then had my awful picture taken.
I’m now the proud owner of a Missouri Drivers License…after living here since late 2001. And no personal property taxes due till the end of 2009!
I have to say this experience wasn’t as bad as the first time I went through it in 2002, probably because I knew what to expect and went into it expecting a bad experience. Besides the hour long wait at the government office, it wasn’t all that bad.
