My Oregon DMV Experience (To My Pleasant Surprise)

[ABM]

Well, finally got squared away with the DMV the other day(s). To be honest, I was pretty amazed at how quickly I got through it all. I went to the Gladstone DMV and the Clackamas DEQ facility.

Here's how it went:

Day 1 - Gladstone DMV: Arrived 9 AM. Quickly did the visual test and took a number. Called up within 10 minutes, paid the $5 to take the written. (still not quite sure why I had to take the written test, but ah well.) Sent over to the computers to take the written. Got done with that in around 10 or 15 minutes. Went to the desk, they took my $60, then immediately sent me down for picture taking. Waited around 10 minutes for them to call me up. Got my temporary license and then left at around 10 AM.

Day 2 - Went to DEQ and took the emissions test. That took all of about 1/2 hour. Then drove back over to Gladsone DMV. Took a number. Called within 10 minutes, handed them all the paperwork, paid $196 ( ), and received my Oregon plates. Was out of there within 1/2 hour.

So, $261 and 2 hours later, I'm Oregon legal.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

It's bad enough taxes go up, the raise in all sorts of fees is criminal. I'm surprised there wasn't a fee for waiting.

 

[mook]

Nice. I don't really understand why Oregon went the route of running their emissions testing through the DEQ. Here in Idaho they have licensed independent contractors do it out of vans/Jiffy Lubes. Much, much more convenient to get to, the people have to be friendly (or else you take your business elsewhere) and the test is only $10.

Great example of federalism in action. Different states coming up with different solutions. (Idaho's solution being better in this case.)

I wish we spent less time on pro/anti government arguments, and more time on how to just do government better.

 

[ABM]

Nice. I don't really understand why Oregon went the route of running their emissions testing through the DEQ. Here in Idaho they have licensed independent contractors do it out of vans/Jiffy Lubes. Much, much more convenient to get to, the people have to be friendly (or else you take your business elsewhere) and the test is only $10.

TOTALLY get that. Experienced the same in Georgia. For that matter, we (gladly) pumped our own gas, as well. When I have to wait at an Oregon pump I almost want to just get out and pump my own!

 

[mook]

TOTALLY get that. Experienced the same in Georgia. For that matter, we (gladly) pumped our own gas, as well. When I have to wait at an Oregon pump I almost want to just get out and pump my own!

Man that enrages me now. Particularly because most of the time I'm in Ontario, where it's not raining like hell.

I never really minded it living in Portland because you can sit on your fat ass sipping your mocha while some other poor slob has to do that shit in the rain.

I can see why Easter Oregonians often seem so enraged at Portlanders. It's a law that really only makes any sense in part of the state.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I like not pumping my own gas. Tip the guy a buck and they wash your windows for you. Also it helps to keep a few under trained workers off of unemployment.

It adds about 2 cents to the price of a gallon. 20 - 30 cents isn't going to break any of you.

 

[ABM]

I like not pumping my own gas. Tip the guy a buck and they wash your windows for you. Also it helps to keep a few under trained workers off of unemployment.

It adds about 2 cents to the price of a gallon. 20 - 30 cents isn't going to break any of you.

You see, it's a conspiracy. You do their work for them...and are GLAD to do it for the sake of time. Much more applicable in the self-checkout arena.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

You see, it's a conspiracy. You do their work for them...and are GLAD to do it for the sake of time. Much more applicable in the self-checkout arena.

The self-checkout things are great for a few items but otherwise they're so annoying.

 

[barfo]

Nice. I don't really understand why Oregon went the route of running their emissions testing through the DEQ. Here in Idaho they have licensed independent contractors do it out of vans/Jiffy Lubes. Much, much more convenient to get to, the people have to be friendly (or else you take your business elsewhere) and the test is only $10.

Great example of federalism in action. Different states coming up with different solutions. (Idaho's solution being better in this case.)

The counter argument is that private contractors are much more willing to pass you even if your car doesn't pass, as long as you slip them a little extra. At least that was my experience in CA. Cheaper yes, but much less effective at getting the polluters off the road. To be fair, I haven't needed to try to bribe the DEQ guys in OR, but I'm guessing it might be more difficult.

barfo

 

[mook]

I love self-checkout. I can fly through 30 groceries while simultaneously managing 2 boys under 5. I am the Mutha-Fuckin' Self-Checkout Masta'. I don't be re-scannin' or nothin. (Suddenly channeling Samuel L Jackson for no reason.)

What I hate is when you get some dumbass with three goddamned items who takes fifteen goddamned minutes to figure out how to scan a single goddamned apple.

Except for Freddies. For some reason Fred Meyers' self-checkout system is moronic. Every time I've done it here it requires attendant assistance on every third item.

 

[44Thrilla]

The self-checkout things are great for a few items but otherwise they're so annoying.

that's what these are for: http://www.gadgetell.com/tech/comme...supermarket-personal-barcode-scanners-invade/

 

[Paxil]

I wonder how much money the state could save if it shut downvirtaully all DEQ stations and did not test any car built since they starting putting the computers in cars. I am sure Oregon DEQ would say no way!!! We need it the way it is so we can waste all your money testing cars we know are good to pay for state employees. Now... I am all for clean air... but we've had the air quality sensors for how many years now? It would seem pretty logical to say anyone who buys a car with one of them in shouldn't have to get tested.

 

[mook]

The counter argument is that private contractors are much more willing to pass you even if your car doesn't pass, as long as you slip them a little extra. At least that was my experience in CA. Cheaper yes, but much less effective at getting the polluters off the road. To be fair, I haven't needed to try to bribe the DEQ guys in OR, but I'm guessing it might be more difficult.

barfo

Yeah, they give you advice on how to trick the system (make sure the car is thoroughly warmed up, get an oil change, etc). But I've never felt like I could get away with bribing one. Maybe I should've tried.

Anyway, it seems like enforcement is pretty simple, same way we ensure gas stations don't sell cigs/booze to underage kids. Have somebody go undercover and try bribing.

 

[mook]

I wonder how much money the state could save if it shut downvirtaully all DEQ stations and did not test any car built since they starting putting the computers in cars. I am sure Oregon DEQ would say no way!!! We need it the way it is so we can waste all your money testing cars we know are good to pay for state employees. Now... I am all for clean air... but we've had the air quality sensors for how many years now? It would seem pretty logical to say anyone who buys a car with one of them in shouldn't have to get tested.

What about guys who put all kinds of aftermarket stuff on their exhaust systems to soup up performance? Or if the sensor fails? Seems like there should be some kind of independent check.

But yeah, it does seem like you shouldn't have to test nearly as often with newer cars.

 

[barfo]

Yeah, they give you advice on how to trick the system (make sure the car is thoroughly warmed up, get an oil change, etc). But I've never felt like I could get away with bribing one. Maybe I should've tried.

Anyway, it seems like enforcement is pretty simple, same way we ensure gas stations don't sell cigs/booze to underage kids. Have somebody go undercover and try bribing.

That of course costs money, and the state doesn't have much of that. I bet, in fact, there is very little checking of the cigs/booze nowadays, either.

barfo

 

[mook]

That of course costs money, and the state doesn't have much of that. I bet, in fact, there is very little checking of the cigs/booze nowadays, either.

barfo

I think paying one or two guys part time to drive around and randomly test the vans/Jiffy Lubes would be a lot cheaper than all the infrastructure/personnel the state employs now to do it through DEQ.

As a really liberal guy, I'm not in favor of privatizing everything. But I think this is one instance where it would be cheaper, more convenient and friendlier.

I've owned a number of really old, crummy cars over the years, and I've been caught several times by the system here in Idaho. It's basically worked. I always eventually wound up fixing the problem.

And I think it's just inherently cheaper. For Jiffy Lube, they already have the service bays/personnel/most of the infrastructure. They get one device that costs them a couple thousand bucks and they are up and running. They even can sell oil changes to the same customer, so it's an add-on business.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I once got my Cadillac Seville threw the NE Portland DEQ for a bucket of Popeye's Chicken.

I knew a guy.

 

[andalusian]

I wonder how much money the state could save if it shut downvirtaully all DEQ stations and did not test any car built since they starting putting the computers in cars. I am sure Oregon DEQ would say no way!!! We need it the way it is so we can waste all your money testing cars we know are good to pay for state employees. Now... I am all for clean air... but we've had the air quality sensors for how many years now? It would seem pretty logical to say anyone who buys a car with one of them in shouldn't have to get tested.

What do the computers have to do with it? Your car will continue to run with faulty converters, all you need to do is cover the blinking check engine light - and you can pollute at will. Heck, anyone that ever a late 80s/early 90s BMW knows that it is almost impossible to find one without some of the lights blinking. You would still need to have it tested by downloading the codes to know if there is an issue with pollution. The only difference between the older cars and the OBD cars (computer equipped) is that testing is simpler - but it still needs to be done to ensure that the car does not pollute.

As for private contractors vs. state facilities - to be honest, I never found the DEQ in the Portland area to be a big hassle - and I have 3 cars that require DEQ testing to deal with. You go there, spend 10 minutes, pay $21 and you go.

 

[ABM]

I once got my Cadillac Seville threw the NE Portland DEQ for a bucket of Popeye's Chicken.

I knew a guy.

Then, he must have known HCP to make that go down.

 

[mook]

As for private contractors vs. state facilities - to be honest, I never found the DEQ in the Portland area to be a big hassle - and I have 3 cars that require DEQ testing to deal with. You go there, spend 10 minutes, pay $21 and you go.

Yeah, I know it's a minor hassle/cost. But you pay twice as much as I do here in Idaho. I can choose from three different places to get tested within a half mile of my home, while it was always a 20 minute drive when I had to do it in Portland.

It's a small example, but I wish we were asking these kinds of questions about our state and federal government all the time. Not only about what works better in one state versus another, but what works better in other countries versus ours.

It seems somehow unpatriotic right now to suggest we can learn things from people outside our own boarders.

 

[Paxil]

What do the computers have to do with it? Your car will continue to run with faulty converters, all you need to do is cover the blinking check engine light - and you can pollute at will. Heck, anyone that ever a late 80s/early 90s BMW knows that it is almost impossible to find one without some of the lights blinking

You are talking about cars that are about 20 years old! Yeah... test those... but most of the cars are newer than 10 years old I bet. Again.. I am all for clean air but it just seems if that was the goal... you focus less on what you generally know is not a problem (newer unmodified cars) I know a few may slip through. If you took all the money paid to DMV... used that for smarter sytem to prevent and mitigate air polution I bet you'd come out better.

 

[maxiep]

I like not pumping my own gas. Tip the guy a buck and they wash your windows for you. Also it helps to keep a few under trained workers off of unemployment.

It adds about 2 cents to the price of a gallon. 20 - 30 cents isn't going to break any of you.

It's not the cost, it's the time. I can pump my own gas and pay for it in much less time than having to wait for someone. Furthermore, the workers improperly top off the tank and then let drops of gas spill on the side of the car as they pull out the pump.

I'm a DIYer. I hate having my gas pumped.

 

[maxiep]

Well, finally got squared away with the DMV the other day(s). To be honest, I was pretty amazed at how quickly I got through it all. I went to the Gladstone DMV and the Clackamas DEQ facility.

Here's how it went:

Day 1 - Gladstone DMV: Arrived 9 AM. Quickly did the visual test and took a number. Called up within 10 minutes, paid the $5 to take the written. (still not quite sure why I had to take the written test, but ah well.) Sent over to the computers to take the written. Got done with that in around 10 or 15 minutes. Went to the desk, they took my $60, then immediately sent me down for picture taking. Waited around 10 minutes for them to call me up. Got my temporary license and then left at around 10 AM.

Day 2 - Went to DEQ and took the emissions test. That took all of about 1/2 hour. Then drove back over to Gladsone DMV. Took a number. Called within 10 minutes, handed them all the paperwork, paid $196 ( ), and received my Oregon plates. Was out of there within 1/2 hour.

So, $261 and 2 hours later, I'm Oregon legal.

I think the DMV and DEQ are actually TOO good. I don't want to pay for all that overhead. Have fewer employees, fewer offices and have us wait longer.

 

[Paxil]

Yeah, I know it's a minor hassle/cost. But you pay twice as much as I do here in Idaho. I can choose from three different places to get tested within a half mile of my home, while it was always a 20 minute drive when I had to do it in Portland.

It's a small example, but I wish we were asking these kinds of questions about our state and federal government all the time. Not only about what works better in one state versus another, but what works better in other countries versus ours.

It seems somehow unpatriotic right now to suggest we can learn things from people outside our own boarders.

It takes work to do things better... and most of the people we elect don't really seem to be interested in doing actual work... just complaining that the problem was created by someone else blah blah blah. Now... the biggest advantage private companies have over government is that there is a profit incentive in being efficient... but then of course there is also profit incentive in cutting corners. =)

Which reminds me of this quote from the movie Creator:
Mrs Pruitt: [to Dr Wolper] Dr Novak called. He said that your proposed address to the Medical Congress on "The Profit Incentive in Misdiagnosis" is really not very funny at all.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

It's not the cost, it's the time. I can pump my own gas and pay for it in much less time than having to wait for someone. Furthermore, the workers improperly top off the tank and then let drops of gas spill on the side of the car as they pull out the pump.

I'm a DIYer. I hate having my gas pumped.

That is against the law now in Oregon and I haven't seen them do it. Actually some of them are so afraid of the fines thet when the pump accidentally clicks off after a few gallons they won't restart it.

 

[maxiep]

That is against the law now in Oregon and I haven't seen them do it. Actually some of them are so afraid of the fines thet when the pump accidentally clicks off after a few gallons they won't restart it.

I've seen them do it quite often, but even if the law now exists it's government overreach. The government still knows better than we do. If someone wants to top off their tank, that's their right to be stupid. I don't do it to allow for vapor expansion.

It still doesn't solve the problem of gas staining the outside of your car or the time to wait.

Why not have a choice? If stations want to have all or some pumps with full-serve, let them. If others want self-serve let them have the choice. I feel the same way about smoking in bars.

There's no need for the government to be involved.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I've seen them do it quite often, but even if the law now exists it's government overreach. The government still knows better than we do. If someone wants to top off their tank, that's their right to be stupid. I don't do it to allow for vapor expansion.

It still doesn't solve the problem of gas staining the outside of your car or the time to wait.

Why not have a choice? If stations want to have all or some pumps with full-serve, let them. If others want self-serve let them have the choice. I feel the same way about smoking in bars.

There's no need for the government to be involved.

Actually it's because of the methyl tertiary butyl ether or MTBE in gasoline is the reason that overfilling and spillage is bad.

 

[maxiep]

Actually it's because of the methyl tertiary butyl ether or MTBE in gasoline is the reason that overfilling and spillage is bad.

Click and Clack got me to stop topping off because they explained there is a separate vessel within the tank that accounts for fluid expansion, and that topping off fills that part, too. I know nothing about cars, so I outsource it to The Car Guys (besides, they make me laugh).

 

[andalusian]

You are talking about cars that are about 20 years old! Yeah... test those... but most of the cars are newer than 10 years old I bet. Again.. I am all for clean air but it just seems if that was the goal... you focus less on what you generally know is not a problem (newer unmodified cars) I know a few may slip through. If you took all the money paid to DMV... used that for smarter sytem to prevent and mitigate air polution I bet you'd come out better.

Even with newer cars - a failure of the converter will not stop your car. To the best of my knowledge, for brand new cars you do not need to pass DEQ for 4 years (it was 2 years before) - my wife's car is from 2008 and I did not have to get it through DEQ yet, I suspect I will have when it gets closer to 2012 - and only after that you get the DEQ checks when the components that cause the problem are more likely to fail.

So, honestly, I am still not following you. The cars need to be checked even if they have "computers" (OBD2 which is the current computer standard mandated in the USA began in 1996).