Death by DMV

ABOUT MY RECENT DEATH I have not been seen around San Diego lately because I was dead for several weeks. Actually, the DMV insisted I was dead. When mailing my registration renewal, I requested at the same time to modify my car's title to say under my name "Transfer on Death to Alice B. Laird". This form of title avoids probate, but is not used much, so I included DMV codes on how this works and as well as the statutory $10 fee for the TOD title amendment. Although I had signed a form and a check for my registration and the Transfer on Death amendment, the DMV thought I had died! They cashed the check for my registration but then wanted $5 more for unexplained reasons. I tried to persuade them I am alive in a letter, which included the extra $5 plus complete Vehicle Code Division 3, Ch. 1 sec. 4150.7 that authorizes the TOD form of title. After another 2-3 weeks, I got a letter addressed to the State of Douglas H. Laird. I liked the idea of becoming the 51st state because then I could issue my own registration sticker. However, DMV meant to write Estate rather than State. They also wanted to know Alice's drivers license number, which I had already sent. They needed my driver’s license number too, although it has always been associated with my car's registration. And DMV raised the price $26 more to transfer title of my car to Alice Laird Laird, a nonexistent person. My next letter pleaded to please PLEASE send registration sticker, and CANCEL amendment to title. And I did not send the $26 increment for cancelled change of title. Weeks later, the uncivil servant at DMV wrote that I had failed to follow instructions, and continued to withhold my registration sticker. My 5th letter advised DMV that I had written my State Representative, suggesting employee discipline would be appropriate. Two weeks after that my registration arrived and I got the use of my car back. Lacking connections in High Places, my resurrection took 82 days. I kept copies of all correspondence to prove what happened, because a non-Californian might not believe this. DMV has no complaint department, and I cannot find contact info for its director; not even a name. A store or insurance agency or other competitive business cannot survive when it inconveniences, overcharges and frustrates its customers. Only government can do that. When leadership is defective, government can even torment its customers (citizens). Its abuse of me is just one more reason to replace the defective Davis administration. Please sign the petition, available locally or at: www.recallgraydavis.com or PO Box 1445 Sacramento CA 95812 Pass it on.