The Laughing Wolf

A Typical Day At Indiana BMV?

The last couple of days have seen me finally getting Indiana tags, an Indiana drivers license, and registered to vote. Getting the license was very interesting, and made me wonder a bit.

The plan had been to do both at once, but that did not work out so I went back for the license the next day. Indiana is one of those states that won't accept anything from out of state, so you have to test. Such tests, IMO, largely serve to reinforce the power of the state and shore up demands for more people and such to provide such services. Test taken, and now doing the paperwork and it was slow going. I had been told the day before that it would not be a problem not to have my full name, but my working name, on the license. This threw the lady doing my application off the tracks (not that it seemed to take a lot). Several visits with supervisors and a trip back to the top dog resulted in my being told no, it can't be done now but if I come back and pay a fee later... Ah, the joys of bureaucratic job assurance and money for the state.

Okay, not happy but not really anything unexpected. I, in fact, made the comment that it was about what I expected from bureaucracy. This earned me a nasty look from one of the floor supervisors who heard it, but I ignored it and her. Then the fun began.

We are halfway through the process when the message comes up on the computer for the person to call Indianapolis. No explanation, at least not shared with me, just call. Ten minutes later she comes back saying that they had just told her to re-process the application. Nothing else. This is methodically and slowly done again, and then we go to get the picture done and the license printed. While that is ongoing, I am again sitting and waiting, and watch as the supervisor who had given me the dirty look goes over and grabs my stuff from the printer.

She then interrupts a meeting in the top dog's office and is in there with my materials for some five to ten minutes. When she returns, she sort of flings my license and paperwork at the cashier and stomps away. Glad that the process is over, and that my civil masters have deigned to honor me, I pay and get out.

Have no idea what all of it was about, but it did raise my curiosity bump more than a little. I wondered if I am on some sort of watchlist? Did that kind soul who used my name and a very old address of mine with police do something more? Was it just typical competence in governmental operations? Was it a civil master wannabe abusing their power to make a point? Combination?

Doubt I will ever know, but it did make for a very weird day and did not leave me with much confidence in the institutions of Indiana government.

LW