DMV Services Temporarily Suspended

The California Department of Motor Vehicles is one of several state departments whose computer systems are down this morning, a DMV spokesman said. Computers went down at DMV field offices statewide, including Redwood City, around 8 a.m. after a problem occurred at the state Office of Technology Services, DMV spokesman Armando Botello said.

Other state offices affected in some capacity by the technical problems include the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, the DMV's umbrella organization; the Department of Consumer Affairs; and the Department of Personnel Administration.

"We're the worst because we have so many offices and services that people depend on," Botello said of the DMV. Visitors to the DMV can still take driving tests, and some paperwork can be done by hand and put into the computer system later, Botello said.

At some DMV offices, self-service terminals where drivers can renew their registration are still operating. At the DMV headquarters in Sacramento, Botello said, said there was no Internet connection, and the problem was also affecting state-issued BlackBerry smartphones. There is no estimated time when computer service will be fixed.

"It might come back in 10 minutes or an hour," Botello said. Meanwhile, affected motorists who can reschedule their appointments are being asked to do so. Others who need immediate services are waiting out the technical difficulties, Botello said. Online services available at dmv.ca.gov are functioning properly.

--Bay City News Service

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