Q: Marguerite Hedstrom of Banning recently turned 93. Her driver’s license is expired and she no longer drives. Hedstrom said her daughter went on the Department of Motor Vehicles website to get another license for Hedstrom for age verification purposes, but the DMV said Hedstrom has to visit a DMV office to have her photo taken.
“I recently renewed my passport and we were able to do it from home and received it back,” Hedstrom said. She asked, “Why can’t the DMV do the same and eliminate more people being in lines?”
A: The DMV requires those over age 70 to have a new photo taken to renew their driver’s license and drivers 70-plus must renew their license in person at the DMV every five years. (If our reader is no longer driving, she also could apply for an ID card.)
“At this time, customers must visit a DMV office to take their driver’s license or identification card photo,” said Katarina Snow, DMV spokesperson. The photo cannot be done online although many other DMV services can be accomplished online.
Parking near mailboxes
Q: Coral Cope of Fontana asked if it’s illegal to park in front of mailboxes. She said a neighbor does this and neighbors on her street also put their trash barrels out in front of mailboxes.
A: There is no specific California Vehicle Code section which prohibits parking a vehicle in front of a mailbox, but federal law says you can’t knowingly or willfully impede mail delivery.
Title 18, Part 1, Chapter 83 of the United States Code, Section 1701 Obstruction of Mails Generally says it’s illegal to obstruct or slow down mail delivery. So doing so would be a federal offense. We think our reader could have a friendly chat with the neighbors who are blocking the mailbox (if it’s a group mailbox) and let them know they face the possibility that the carrier will skip your mailbox when access is blocked. Otherwise she could report this to the local police when the mailbox is actually blocked, and seek enforcement.
DMV service
Q: Evelyn Gault of Claremont asked if we have “ever come across any complaints regarding the DMV on how rude, mean and nasty they are regarding the renewal of driver’s license for senior citizens.” Gault alleged the DMV wants senior citizens to “fail a test of any kind” and asked how to report this.
A: Complaints to On the Road about DMV staff are rare. Our reader could report her negative experience to a supervisor at her DMV office.
We would like to remind readers that as of last year, drivers 70-plus no longer have to take the knowledge test to renew their driver’s license in most cases. Previously, all drivers had been required to take the knowledge test once their license expired after turning 70. Seniors could take the eLearning course instead but this also is no longer required. A DMV office visit is still required for a vision exam and as we noted previously, a photo for those 70-plus seeking to renewing their license. All renewing drivers with poor driving records will have to take the knowledge test, however.
Do you commute to work in the Inland Empire? Spend a lot of time in your vehicle? Have questions about driving, freeways, toll roads or parking? If so, write or call On the Road and we’ll try to answer your questions. Please include your question or issue, name, city of residence, phone number and email address. Write ontheroad@scng.com or call 951-368-9995.