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2DMV4U makes frustration
pay
by Peter Galuszka
Virginia Business
July 2003
Frustration
can pay. Last fall, when the extent of the state’s
budget crisis became known, scores of Department of
Motor Vehicle employees were laid off and dozens of
offices were shut. Thousands of Virginians got hot under
the collar when their time waiting in line for car registrations
and other documents grew annoyingly long.
Yet,
Christie Black of Virginia Beach and another DMV co-worker
saw opportunity. Just seven days after getting their
pink slips on Oct. 24, they founded 2DMV4U. The business
plan was simple: Stand in line for people who don’t
have the time. Their DMV experience was a plus since
they could spot errors before presenting documents.
“The average fee is $45. We can do just about anything
except get your driver’s license or identity card,”
says Black, who had worked at DMV for three and a half
years.
The
business has taken off. Customers, including car dealers,
recreational vehicle sellers and corporate executives
save hours of dead time. “It’s wonderful.
She (Christie Black) has the inside scoop, and now I
don’t have to have anyone leaving the business,”
says Mike Johnson, manager of Steve’s Auto Sales
in Norfolk.
And
now, 2DMV4U is poised to move to the next level. Black
lobbied for, and won, General Assembly approval for
a pilot program to test the idea of a privatized DMV
outlet that she would operate. The program is a step
towards turning state DMV services into private business
as has been done in Arizona, California, Oklahoma and
North Dakota. Sen. Frank Wagner (R-Virginia Beach),
who sponsored the pilot program, notes that the DMV
uses 70 percent of its $216 million in revenues just
to support its staff. Black’s pilot program “would
certainly give us the information we need to know”
before the legislature determines whether to push ahead
with greater privatization of DMV.
Meanwhile,
does Black have any advice to citizens stuck in line?
“Getting mad at these gals does not help you. Get
out and vote. These people have had no raises since
1999, and they are getting blamed for the state’s
problems.”
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