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Live Web Chat with Director of DC DMV
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DC Dept of Motor Vehicles
1:00
This concludes our DMV Director Chat Session for today. Thanks to everyone who participated by asking questions. For additional DMV related questions, please call 311 or 202-737-4404, submit a request/question online at http://311.dc.gov or on our website at dmv.dc.gov. And don't forget to follow us on facebook and twitter. Take care, drive safe and see you at the next DMV Director Chat Session which is scheduled the first Thursday of each month. The next chat session will be Thursday, July 7th at Noon. 
 
Thanks,
 
Director Robinson
12:57
You can request visitor parking permits online through DDOT until you get your vehicle registered.  It should be noted, DC law requires you the register your vehicle within 60 days of moving.  https://www.parkdc.com/pages/permits
Chase
12:57
Are you able to get temporary zone parking if you are moving from Maryland to DC without going to the DMV? I am moving into the district and my car is registered in MD and I have a Maryland license, but I signed a lease in DC.
DC Dept of Motor Vehicles
12:51
Thank You and have a great day.
Craig
12:51
Ok, thanks for your time today. There's a lot more detail in my email (including recognition of some great employees), so I hope you'll still have a chance to consider it. I sent it to your personal address on March 27 after the Ask the Director form gave an error message twice. Subject line was "Feedback from a New Resident." I know you have a thankless job, so thank you for doing it. :)
DC Dept of Motor Vehicles
12:48
I will take your comment under advisement.
Guest
12:48
That seems a bit iffy, but noted.  On the inspection decals, why is it that if I get my vehicle tested within a week or two of my prior inspection date, I then forfeit my prior date which was within 30 days of my registration renewal?  As long as it's within 30 days, shouldn't the original expiration date just be extended so it is easier for customers to keep things in close connection date wise for their simplicity and still achieve the program goals of compliance that way?
DC Dept of Motor Vehicles
12:46
So noted.
Craig
12:46
I see. I guess you could have one color registration decal for people on the same cycle as inspection (so no second decal would be needed) and a different color for off-cycle registrations. But maybe the juice isn't worth the squeeze. It's just a slightly more annoying and slightly less safe to have decals on both sides of the windshield, versus the single decal in Virginia (which is half the size of DC's).
DC Dept of Motor Vehicles
12:45
See the following link:  https://dmv.dc.gov/node/1119146
Guest
12:45
What is an ID card?  How do I get that?
DC Dept of Motor Vehicles
12:44
We don't allow clear and obvious profanity.  Individuals have to state their intent at the time of application.  It should be noted, abbreviations doesn't always mean the same thing.
Guest
12:44
What are the rules around vanity tags and profanity?  For example, I just saw a tag "VEGANAF" and AF clearly stands for "As F***" in this instance.
DC Dept of Motor Vehicles
12:36
So noted.
Craig
12:36
Two other suggestions from my email: 1) Lower the counter height at the service centers so the employee and customer can sit across from each other during the 30 minutes it takes to complete the transaction. The chair is already there for the photo, but it can't be used the rest of the time without popping up and down constantly.  2) Link from the personalized tag page to the personalize tag regulation. All it says right now is that tags can't be "offensive," but there's no indication of all the other prohibited content. As a result, my request for the plate I had in Virginia was rejected the next week, and DMV had to refund my money. I would have just picked something else to begin with if I had known the rules.
DC Dept of Motor Vehicles
12:36
That would require a person to go through inspection one year sooner and I know more people would not be excited about that; particularly since they can just renew their registration online.
Craig
12:36
Good point. Then just require a new inspection for a new two-year registration and you can eliminate the decals completely.
DC Dept of Motor Vehicles
12:33
If the same person decides to renew for two years the following year instead of one, there would be a one year period with no indication if inspection compliance.
Craig
12:33
Thanks. If someone renews registration for one year, their inspection would still be current when they renew the second year, so either way a valid registration would indicate a current inspection.
DC Dept of Motor Vehicles
12:30
Thanks:  1) The decal is needed to identify inspection compliance. 2) The inspection and registration are not always on the same renewal cycle (i.e. a person could choose to renew registration for one or two years, where inspection renewal is always two). 3) I understand your point and will make note.
Craig
12:30
What is the purpose of the inspection decal? If 1) inspection is required to register the vehicle; 2) the inspection and registration periods are almost exactly the same; 3) the inspection is paid for at the time of registration; and 4) the same agency provides the inspection and registration, why wouldn't a valid registration decal indicate a current inspection? The extra decal seems like a waste of money for you and additional windshield clutter for me.
DC Dept of Motor Vehicles
12:25
Thanks for the question, but DMVs are state agencies subordinate to the laws of their state.  Although we share a lot of information, it's not feasible to create a process where all three states have the same laws that govern DMV requirements.
Craig
12:25
Okay, thanks. Why can't DC/VA/MD do a lot of the information exchange behind the scenes so that most (or maybe all) of the new resident process can be completed online?
DC Dept of Motor Vehicles
12:21
I'm sorry to hear about your situation.  Unfortunately, the law does not allow you to renew your registration without a valid license or ID Card.  You must be incompliance before you can renew the registration.
Guest
12:21
I'm not sure how to use this chat. My problem is vehicle registration.  My license has expired (I've been bed ridden) - can't get to the DMV.  I haven't driven my car in two years. It is parked outside my house on the street. I want to renew my registration so I don't get a ticket. I'm not going to be driving for at least two years. I'm having several  surgeries that have been postponed because of Covid. Is there a way to register without having a valid drivers license?
DC Dept of Motor Vehicles
12:18
You may ask any question you'd like.  If I am able to respond in the open via the chat, I will.
Craig
12:18
Thanks. I hope you'll have the opportunity to respond to my email, unless you'd prefer that relay the other feedback and ask the other questions here.
DC Dept of Motor Vehicles
12:16
I apologize for your experience and will make note of your comments.
Craig
12:16
I didn't realize that. It would be helpful to have a clear new resident checklist directly accessible from the homepage, signs at the inspection station pointing out the nearby service center, etc. The webpage about inspections doesn't even say where the inspection station is. I think there's a lot that can be done relatively easily (and some things less easily) to make this experience easier for new residents. It's especially frustrating because I didn't wound up with anything at the end of the process more than when I started -- I just remained in compliance with the law. It's a lot of work for just that.
DC Dept of Motor Vehicles
12:12
The station is not built for all DMV services and  the capacity would not be supported.  Additionally, the 95 M Street Service Center is literally one block away from the inspection station to support the other services.
Craig
12:12
Right, so why not put them all in one place, basically have customer service representatives at the inspection station.
DC Dept of Motor Vehicles
12:08
Thanks for the question and welcome to DC.  1) You can title and register a vehicle and receive a license all at one location during one transaction. 2) You must come to the inspection station to have the vehicle inspected; it's a different function and requires special equipment. 3) Personalized tags can be ordered and any service center or online, but can only be pick-up at the 95 M Street location.
Craig
12:08
Hi, thank you for doing these chats. I'm a new DC resident and emailed you with feedback on my experience. I hope you can reply in more detail later, but for now I'm hoping you can comment on why new residents have to go two different DMV locations to complete required inspection, registration, and licensing. (A third location is required for personalized plates.) Why can't there be a new resident welcome center where all these things can be done at once?
DC Dept of Motor Vehicles
12:01
I'm now ready to take your questions related to any DMV service and activity. If you have a question not related to DMV, I'll try my best to redirect you to the appropriate agency.  Also, I may not be able to answer specific questions which require research related to DMV issues since I only have an hour to chat. Therefore, if your question is specific to your driver license, a ticket, etc, I may request you submit it on our website (dmv.dc.gov) or service request (http://311.dc.gov).
12:00
Good afternoon and welcome to today’s online chat with me, Gabriel Robinson, DMV Director. Today, we’ll discuss your various DMV issues related to driver licenses and identification cards; vehicle inspections, titles and registrations; and the adjudication of photo, parking and moving violations. We have over 55 online services (http://dmv.dc.gov/page/online-services) and seven facilities which provide in-person service to 2,800-3,300 daily customers. In regards to tickets, we have two main sister agencies: DDOT which regulates parking (i.e., signage, meters and parking permits) and DPW/DDOT which issues parking tickets, along with 30 plus other entities in the District. Also, MPD issues photo enforcement tickets.
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