Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

3 days ago

Trump Says He’s Willing to Let Migrant Farm Laborers Stay in US

3 days ago

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

4 days ago

Eyeing Arctic Dominance, Trump Bill Earmarks $8.6 Billion for US Coast Guard Icebreakers

4 days ago

Trump’s Sweeping Tax-Cut and Spending Bill Wins Congressional Approval

4 days ago

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

4 days ago

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

4 days ago

Nvidia Set to Become the World’s Most Valuable Company in History

4 days ago

Poll: 41% in US ‘Extremely Proud’ to Be American, Near Historic Low

4 days ago
As Lines Grow, State Legislators Kill DMV Audit
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 7 years ago on
August 9, 2018

Share

Despite calls to hold the DMV accountable for hours-long wait times, a California legislative committee declined to approve an audit of the agency at Wednesday (Aug. 8) hearing.
Although none of the 13 assembly members and senators on the Joint Committee on Legislative Audit voted no, not enough voted yes to order the audit.

DMV Under Fire

The vote came one day after another legislative committee questioned Department of Motor Vehicles Director Jean Shiomoto about the public outrage over long wait times and difficulty booking appointments.
Shiomoto told lawmakers that wait times began to spike several months ago as Californians update their licenses to meet new federal security standards known as Real ID.
The agency underestimated the time needed to explain the new requirements to customers and ensure they have necessary documents, Shiomoto said.
Shiomoto asked lawmakers Tuesday for additional money to hire more employees, possibly as much as $26 million, on top of the millions in additional funding the agency has received to fulfill Read ID demands.
The federal law was enacted in 2005 in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and requires new ID cards to carry special markings.
Beginning Oct. 1, 2020, airport security checkpoints won’t accept non-compliant cards. Californians must apply for new cards in person at DMV offices.
The department has already hired hundreds of additional employees to handle increased demand. The agency is also encouraging people to complete some paperwork before arriving in person and is piloting text message alerts for waiting customers.

Example of a California Real ID card
See the golden bear with a star shown on this facsimile of California’s Real ID driver’s license? That’s how you know it’s compliant with federal law. (DMV Photo)

Patterson, Cox Upset

Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) voiced loudly his displeasure about the long wait times and his perceived mismanagement of the DMV. He vented his frustrations after the vote.
“The members of this committee who voted against this audit request have just sentenced California drivers to interminable wait times. The people of this state and the DMV employees have been loud and clear about the absolute failure of this department to do their job,” Paterson said in a statement.
John Cox, the Republican candidate for governor, expressed similar sentiments.
“This is a glaring example of the Sacramento political class bending over backwards to protect a failing system and snubbing Californians that have long been forgotten,” Cox said. “Every hour in line at the DMV is time away from a job or family. Not auditing the DMV in light of blatant mismanagement is exactly why Californians need help.”

Audit Rejected

Seven members each from the Senate and the Assembly comprise the joint audit committee. Audit approval requires a majority (or four votes) from representatives of each house.


On the Assembly side, Catharine Baker (R-Dublin) and Dante Acosta (R-Santa Clarita) joined Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) and Blanca Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) in backing an audit.
“We need to get answers about DMV wait times and address this. I have heard time and time again from constituents in my district about unacceptable long wait times at our local offices. Audits are an important tool to get to the bottom of bureaucratic disarray, which was why I supported the request. I will continue to work with my colleagues to get this fixed,” Rubio said in a statement after the vote.
However, only three senators voted yes— Richard Roth (D-Riverside), along with Antony Cannella (R-Ceres) and Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield).
Three others, Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), Jim Beall (D-San Jose) and Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) abstained, preventing a majority vote on the Senate side.
Allen explained his thinking via Twitter.
“Gov. Brown’s office called to give me the governor’s commitment to address the issues raised under the audit request. In committee, the chair agreed that we can revisit the request as soon as the end of this month if we don’t feel as though adequate progress is being made,” Allen said.
Patterson plans to return to the committee with another audit request. He estimates that might be in six months.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again

DON'T MISS

What’s Caitlin Clark Worth to the WNBA? A Lot More Than Her $78,066 Salary.

DON'T MISS

Trump to Sign Tax-Cut and Spending Bill in July 4 Ceremony

DON'T MISS

Madre Fire Spurs Evacuations Across 3 Counties, Grows to More Than 70,000 Acres

DON'T MISS

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

DON'T MISS

Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase

DON'T MISS

613 Killed at Gaza Aid Distribution Sites, Near Humanitarian Covoys, Says UN

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Transient Man

DON'T MISS

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

DON'T MISS

Israeli Military Kills 20 in Gaza as Trump Awaits Hamas Reply to Truce Proposal

UP NEXT

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Rachelle Maria Blanco

UP NEXT

Fresno Police to Conduct DUI Checkpoint on Fourth of July, Boost Holiday Patrols

UP NEXT

Fresno Crash Involving Unlicensed Teen Driver Sends Woman to Hospital

UP NEXT

Madre Fire Burns More Than 52,000 Acres in San Luis Obispo County

UP NEXT

RIP John Harris: Fresno County Rancher, Racehorse Breeder Was a Visionary Leader Who Leaves a ‘Profound Legacy’

UP NEXT

Valadao, Costa Spar on What Passage of Trump’s Bill Means for Medicaid Recipients

UP NEXT

Kaweah Health Names Its New Chief Nurse. She’s From Texas

UP NEXT

Clovis Police Say At-Risk Missing Woman Found Dead in Mariposa County

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Recover Some of the $40,000 in Fireworks Stolen From Bullard High Team

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Planned Parenthood Sues Trump Administration Over Planned Defunding

54 minutes ago

San Luis Obispo’s Madre Fire Injures 1 Firefighter, Burns Over 80,000 Acres

55 minutes ago

Two Border Patrol Officers Injured After Gunman Opens Fire in Texas

57 minutes ago

Fresno Police Arrest 9 at Independence Day DUI Checkpoint

1 hour ago

Schumer Wants Probe of National Weather Service Response in Texas

2 hours ago

Israeli Guilt Over Gaza Lurks Beneath Silence and Denial

2 hours ago

Trump Criticized for Using Antisemitic ‘Shylock’ to Describe Bankers

2 hours ago

Iran President Says Open to Dialogue With US, Accuses Israel of Assassination Attempt

2 hours ago

Shy but Sweet Field Survivor, Poppy the Pup, Now Up for Adoption

2 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Douglas Wayne Brittain

2 hours ago

Trump Says Will Impose 25% Tariffs on Japan, South Korea

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Monday said he would impose a 25% tariff on goods from Japan and South Korea starting on August...

32 minutes ago

Containers on a cargo ship are pictured at an industrial port in Tokyo, Japan, July 2, 2025. (Reuters File)
32 minutes ago

Trump Says Will Impose 25% Tariffs on Japan, South Korea

Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., June 30, 2025. (Reuters/Brendan McDermid)
34 minutes ago

Wall Street Knocked Lower by Tariff Jitters, Musk’s Political Plan Hurts Tesla

Protesters march near the campus of Columbia University in upper Manhattan to demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and former Columbia student, on March 14, 2025. A federal judge in Boston on Monday, July 7, 2025, will hear opening statements in a trial expected to present the foremost challenge to the Trump administration’s aggressive posture toward foreign students who espoused pro-Palestinian views. (Dave Sanders/The New York Times)
38 minutes ago

Trial Over Free Speech on Campus, and Trump’s Student Crackdown, Begins

Activists for Planned Parenthood demonstrate as the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments in South Carolina's bid to cut off public funding to Planned Parenthood, in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 2, 2025. (Reuters File)
54 minutes ago

Planned Parenthood Sues Trump Administration Over Planned Defunding

The Madre Fire near New Cuyama has burned over 80,000 acres, prompted widespread evacuations, and left one firefighter injured as crews work to contain the blaze. (CalFire)
55 minutes ago

San Luis Obispo’s Madre Fire Injures 1 Firefighter, Burns Over 80,000 Acres

Photo of caution tape
57 minutes ago

Two Border Patrol Officers Injured After Gunman Opens Fire in Texas

Fresno Police arrested nine people for DUI and cited 20 others during a Friday, July 4, 2025, checkpoint that screened 227 vehicles. (GV Wire Composite/Paul Marshall)
1 hour ago

Fresno Police Arrest 9 at Independence Day DUI Checkpoint

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) speaks during a press conference after the Senate passes U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping spending and tax bill, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 1, 2025. (Reuters/Annabelle Gordon)
2 hours ago

Schumer Wants Probe of National Weather Service Response in Texas

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend