Registry day

Last night I pep talked myself into believing that standing in line at the Motor Vehicles office today wouldn’t be that bad. But it was. Just as bad as it always is. And even worse, being the last day of the month.

Yeah, I put it off until the last minute. Under normal circumstances, I could re-register my car online. But this time, the registry of motor vehicles insisted that I owed them for last year’s auto excise tax and there was going to be no registration without paying it first or proving that I already had. And, naturally, it fell to me to prove that I paid the excise tax. And that can’t be done online.

So I hauled myself into the Registry this morning and stood in line for two hours with my various pieces of paper. When I finally got to the desk, the clerk told me that she couldn’t put through my registration until I had a certified document from the tax collector’s office, upstairs and on the other side of the building. It wasn’t enough that I had a canceled check in my hand. I had to have a release number that can only be issued by the tax collector’s office. That must be secret information because it certainly wasn’t posted anywhere.

But the tax office was easy and I was in and out of that office in a little under 5 minutes.

Then I went back to the registry office and stood in line for another hour and a half. Most of the transactions ahead of me were suspended licenses being renewed—or declined. It’s always surprising to me to see how many suspended license matters there are on the rare occasions that I’m in that office. And, of course, that particular transaction raises a lot of tempers and arguments and shouting. Which is why there is a police officer on duty at the door. And why a simple tap ("Is there a problem, sir?") on the shoulder by the police officer tends to quiet matters down abruptly. Well, except for the fellow who went nose to nose with the police officer and ended up being escorted out in handcuffs. Life can be downright exciting at the Registry.

It’s an interesting slice of life. But all that waiting and drama for a very simple transaction that actually took 2 minutes and 23 seconds...including the check writing for the registration fee. And with a few pleasantries exchanged besides.

Now I have to go have the car inspected. Bleh!!