Screwed Over by WA DOL, But Help Pours In

It’s now been 18 days since my robbery on the Mexico City Metro; I’ve received replacements in the mail for my lost credit card and debit card.  The lone holdout keeping me here is my driver’s license, which has, unbelievably, yet to arrive.  I’ve been regularly calling the Washington State Department of Licensing to follow their lugubrious process, talking to phone agents who cheerfully explain that their screens only show partial information, so they can’t confirm, for example, that they have the correct mailing address, etc.  Nevertheless I've been gradually able to determine that (1) they received my form requesting the replacement, (2) the new license was in the works, (3) it was mailed out on July 18.  This last occasioned much relief on my part; however, when ten days had elapsed without it arriving, I called again today.  My question was: HOW did you mail it?

The answer: by regular postal mail.  

Which can, according to Mexico City residents, take a month or more to arrive.  

In other words, I won’t likely see it for three more weeks.

I explained that would not work for me, and I asked them to send another by express mail, volunteering to pay right then over the phone.  They refused.  I asked them to send another to my local Seattle address -- whereupon it would be forwarded to my friend and HE could express-mail it to me.  The nasal-voiced woman replied that DOL mail is not forwarded.  That’s okay, I said, my tenant can collect it, and my rental manager can express it to me.  No, the woman said, if there exists a forwarding on the address the card is not even delivered, but returned by the post office to the DOL.  Really.  How about this, I said; I can arrange for someone to come in and pick up the card in person for me.  Impossible, the woman said: licenses are only distributed by mail.  What, then, I asked, does the DOL recommend I do?  Answer: wait for the license that was mailed by regular post.  End of call.

I don’t know how many of my Seattle readers put stock in the idea of Manifestation, and certainly my track record doesn’t suggest I have much control over it, but if anyone out there suspects I might have hidden powers when aroused then they would do well to start moseying out of town, for I directed a pretty focused wish at the universe for a multi-megaton first strike by China on the Bangor submarine base no questions asked.  If it gets the DOL it’d be worth it.

I would point out that the DOL form by which I requested my replacement license is titled: “Driver License Replacement Request While Out-of-State” [sic]: in other words, long distances are implied by definition and emergency situations by context.  WHY would they send replacements by regular mail?  For contrast, both my credit card and debit card replacements were sent by express mail, the credit card OVERNIGHTED so I had it THE DAY AFTER THE ROBBERY, the debit card actually sent in TWO express packages to keep the PIN number and card separate (a good arrangement, as my card package bore signs of opening and re-taping).  I would point out that I myself sent the above form TO them by express mail, at a cost of over $40.  I would point out that I own two cars and pay roughly $700 a year in registration fees.  And they can’t send my replacement license by FedEx?

Into my absurd situation, however, has come a lot of help from many different people.  Bangor has received a conditional reprieve.

First thanks goes to my local contact Brett Duel, whom I met on my tour to Nevado de Toluca.  We got together again yesterday for a stroll through the pretty streets and multiple museums of the San Angel neighborhood, and when I proved shamefully abstracted by my situation she jumped in with several points of expert advice.  First was to go report the crime, which I did today (she told me exactly where to go); this got me official paperwork showing that my driver’s license was stolen, which according to Brett I can show on the road if pulled over. 

A second option while I wait out August is to continue my Mexico travels by bus, at least to Oaxaca and potentially further; this became possible thanks to another wonderful local contact, Adrian Smith (see my day at Xochilmilco), who has volunteered to let me store my Miata at her home in nearby Tepoztlan, starting as early as Tuesday if necessary.

As if this stream of wonderful people wasn’t enough, I received another piece of advice from a friend in the States (you know who you are!) who suggested I contact my State legislator to expedite the license process.  This is the sort of thing I never would have thought of on my own.  But this morning I sent a help-me email to my Washington State representative, explaining that I was stuck in Mexico City etc. etc., and within MINUTES got a return email from Rep. Gael Tarleton promising that her office would do whatever they could to get a replacement driver’s license express-mailed to me ASAP. 

So I now have several options to get moving again.   And a big rose-petal basket of thank-yous to strew in all directions to so many people who’ve been so helpful.  Stay tuned to see what happens from here!