Long Time Without Vision Test

THE DOWNSIDE TO ONLINE RENEWALS: Last month the state announced drivers can renew their licenses online, at www.mvd.newmexico.gov.

It’s a change guaranteed to deliver convenience as well as reduce long lines, since an estimated 180,000 drivers are eligible and the Motor Vehicle Division handles around 1,500 license renewals a day.

It’s also a change that requires New Mexicans to exercise more responsibility. Because under the new policy, a driver can get an eight-year license, then renew for another eight years online, going 16 years without a vision test.

Drivers age 75 and older still have to renew in person annually.

Having an outdated and unflattering photo of yourself is one thing. Having law enforcement rely on what you looked like more than a decade ago is less than ideal. But having drivers on the interstate who need an updated eyeglass prescription, cataract surgery or other vision treatment is a potential nightmare.

S.U. Mahesh, spokesman for the state Taxation and Revenue Department, which oversees MVD, says it comes down to “personal responsibility” as well as responsibility taken by relatives, friends and neighbors to help ensure someone who shouldn’t be driving isn’t driving.

That sounds good. But one look at New Mexico’s DWI problem shows personal responsibility, and responsibility taken by relatives, friends and neighbors, often doesn’t get behind the wheel in this state.

NOW ABOUT RENEWING HANDICAP PLACARDS: David Blacher emails “I was very excited to see that we who have and use handicap placards may now get two copies. I especially need two because I travel a great deal both for business and pleasure. Having two will enable me to use the handicap spaces at the Sunport and also have one for when I rent a car at my destination.”

So David says he “called the local N.M. MVD office to confirm the process to acquire a second. I was told that it was now very doable, just come to the office and fill out a form. I did so, and when I checked in I was given the proper form and filled it out. When I went to turn it in to be processed, the clerk advised me that the ‘system’ would not accept it. However, I could get two when I renew my placard in 2016, four years in the future.”

David says “this doesn’t make any sense.”

Some would say then it must be true. But the state says David should have been given his allotted one additional placard.

Mahesh says the only time you can get two placards is when you are due to renew, “unless you lost your placards. You can always go to an MVD office and request for one if you are given only one initially.”

PARKING LOT NEEDS ANOTHER TURN LANE: David L. Huhn says in an email “when the Walmart at Wyoming and Academy was remodeled into a Superstore, they re-painted the west exit from the Smith’s/Walmart parking lot onto Wyoming, allowing for only one left-turn lane for those wishing to turn left on to Wyoming.”

And that’s a problem, David says, because “in the past 15 years there has always been two left-turn lanes for traffic to proceed south on Wyoming. The size of the exit remains the same. Can it not be re-painted to allow it to function as it has in the past? With the added traffic from the Superstore, the backups and delays are beginning to be frustrating.”

Then it would be a good idea to pick up some headache medicine while shopping.

Deborah Nason, public information officer for Albuquerque’s Planning Department, says “we had staff from the Transportation Development section in Planning make a site visit. According to the City Engineer, Richard Dourte, the striping of the turn lanes is in compliance with the approved site-development plan.”

Assistant editorial page editor D’Val Westphal tackles commuter issues for the Metro area on Mondays and West Siders and Rio Ranchoans on Thursdays. Reach her at 823-3858; road@abqjournal.com; P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, NM 87103; or go to ABQjournal.com/traffic to read previous columns.