Friday, October 19, 2007

A Taste of NJ Bureaucracy

On Wednesday, my hair looked good--and it wasn't humid so I could count on it remaining just how I wanted it. I decided it was the day to renew my driver's license because there was a better than average chance that the new photo on my driver's license would not resemble a mug shot. Yes, I want to look like a glamorous romance writer even on my driver's license. I had all my identification in order, so I went to Motor Vehicles.

However, I did not get past the first step. Unfortunately, I was born in Jersey City and the DVM no longer accepts birth certificates from Jersey City. This is evidently because a Hudson County clerk was issuing fraudulent birth certificates.

I had to get a new birth certificate. I decided the fastest way to do that would be to go to Trenton the next day.

I spent $20 on gasoline, $3 for parking, and $25 for the new birth certificate.

Somehow this does not seem fair. (The state has to be making a lot of money on this deal.)

I guess I'll try again next week to renew my driver's license.

4 comments:

Leann said...

I find it odd that you must have your birth certificate to renew your license. Here we just go in and pay the 50 bucks and have a renewed license

Penelope Marzec said...

New Jersey makes things difficult because the 9/11 terrorists who flew the planes into the World Trade Center had gotten their driver's licenses in New Jersey.

So it isn't easy to get a driver's license here anymore. Even to renew one that you already have.

Leann said...

Well that makes perfect sense then!

Sage Lily said...

I was all prepared for DMV to give me a problem. I even had to drive to Edison to get a copy of my marraige certificate. It was comforting to find out that my marraige is legal. LOL. I was shocked at DMV because I did not have a problem at all, even with the little strike-thru on my birth certificate.

I pushed the envelope for a passport and that went through also. I think it also depends on who you get and what mood that person is in that day.