In Texas, we don’t have Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) but rather the Department of Public Safety (DPS). What we do have is long lines for renewing your driver’s licence. I have to credit the DPS first because over the last 8 years, I have never had to go visit the DPS. Everything I needed to do could be handled via the mail or online. This includes changing my home address and renewing my license. Alas, all good things must come to end. At some point DPS requires a new picture of you as well as a new eye test. Of course, this has to be done in person.

When I got to DPS, I was greeted by a pleasant attendant who gave me a number and told me to wait. There were about 50 people in front of me. To it’s credit the DPS has a good numbering system and there are several screens showing what number is being served. Still I had about an hour or so to wait.

As I sat there is the heard of people waiting, I started wondering if there was some way to automate this whole process. Looking around at everyone waiting reminded me of an airport. Most airlines have kiosks that allow you to check-in and get a boarding pass. These kiosks seem like the prefect solution for the DMV. The kiosks could verify your ID and then administer your eye test. They could even take an updated picture of you for your new license? Hey, maybe they would even let you select your new photo from a series of pictures?

The day I was at the DMV there were a total of 12 stations of which about 6 were open at any one time. How much time and money would be saved if they say 30 kiosks that automated the routine stuff like driver’s license renewal?