ALBANY — Your long DMV nightmare may soon be over.
Gov. Cuomo plans to make Department of Motor Vehicles offices friendlier places, complete with customer-service reps to greet and assist motorists and self-serve kiosks, starting at 15 locations this month.
The changes are aimed at cutting in half the average hourlong wait at DMV offices by early 2014, he said.
The plan, outlined during a state Capitol Cabinet meeting yesterday, also authorizes morning, late and possibly Saturday hours at some DMV locations, pharmacies and AAA offices to conduct official vision screenings for driver’s-license renewals.
Motorists would be able to reserve a place in line on-line or with their smartphones.
“All great things, innovative,” said AAA lobbyist John Corlett, adding, “They’re way overdue.”
He noted Cuomo’s father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo, launched a “reinventing DMV” initiative in the 1990s.
“New York state citizens need to be treated like they’re our customers,” said top Cuomo aide Larry Schwartz.
Officials said the DMV plan will serve as a trial for a “customer-service initiative” across state agencies and authorities that will be unveiled next year.