Revenue Department Ripoff

I had to get my driver's license renewed yesterday, so I went to the local Revenue Office. I usually get my license plates renewed electronically, but for the driver's license they take your picture, so I had to go in person. Bleah.

I hate to have my picture taken, and it shows in that photo. I looked a lot like all those angry tea-party folks. Besides that, I look four years older than my last driver's license photo. Of course, I AM four years older, as of today, but, it seems to me that when people reach a certain age, they should just keep on looking the same from then on out.

Anyhoo, when I have to go to the Revenue Office, I am always struck by how efficient they are - and friendly. It's almost enjoyable to go there, now. This has not always been the case. I am reminded of the days of Wanda the Witch, who used to reign over the office with an iron fist, and no velvet glove. She reveled in the power she had over the public.

I have often wondered what she could possibly be holding over someone's head that protected her from all the complaints lodged against her over a long period of years. We're talking at least 20 years, here. Those were the days before the internet, so everything had to be done in person. That office was just chaos all the time. When you had to do business there, you planned on taking the whole day off from your job, because you'd be cooling your heels for literally hours.

To make things worse, all of the employees took their breaks at the same time, and Wanda shooed everyone out of the office from noon til one, so they could all go to lunch. All of the "upper-class" of the town knew that they could call Wanda and tell her what they wanted and she would meet them at the back door, and take care of them so they didn't have to waste their valuable time waiting in line.

Wanda's word was law. Things go so balled up one day, when I was there, that Wanda got everyone to stand in a semi-circle so she could find out what they wanted and inspect their paperwork to make sure they had everything. She went down that line like a general inspecting the troops, sending some away to get more information, and some she passed, reluctantly so they could go back to their chairs and continue to wait. Of course, everything came to a halt while she did this, but, no matter.

There was dancing in the streets when Wanda retired, let me tell you. The office became a pleasant, uncrowded place, with longer hours, staggered coffee-breaks and lunch hours, and improved efficiency. Now, with the State of Arkansas on the internet, there is very little problem with paperwork for license tag renewals.

There's just one thing that bothers me. They charged me an extra $2.00 to use my debit card. What's up with that?!?

Stay tuned.