The Latest Dumb Idea from the Suburbs

Here's a gem from yesterday's Star Tribune:


Which tells us that the DMVs in a few outer suburban communities are installing drive-through lanes. How does this work?

Everyone knows how long things can take at the DMV, for whatever reason. So instead of having people share a space while on foot (and sitting in chairs), each person taking a number to keep it all organized, this new method means the customers are in a line of cars, all idling their engines for many minutes.

The only thing the drive-through does is keep the customers dry if it's raining or snowing, and according to the story the infrastructure costs tens of thousands of dollars to install. And I assume they have to divert some of the staff that would otherwise be serving the people waiting in the lobby, right? I can't imagine they have the budget to add staff to cover the drive-through.

So I'll bet this is a net negative for the people who come to the lobby to do their business with the DMV, and it's clearly a net negative for the environment. If I knew it would only be used by people with limited mobility or who have young children sleeping in the backseat, I might be okay with it, but — having seen the average Starbucks or fast-food drive-through — we know that won't be true.

Stop this practice now. Don't let it spread!