FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Commissioner David J. Swarts of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles today announced that offices operated by the State DMV will be closed on Friday, May 21 as part of the recently enacted emergency appropriations legislation. That legislation calls for a one day furlough for unionized state employees during the week of May 17. State offices will be closed in the following counties: Albany, Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Onondaga, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Queens and Westchester.

Many DMV transactions can be conducted on the DMV Web site including registration renewals, duplicate titles, duplicate licenses and Traffic Violations Bureau tickets. A complete list of available services is listed on the DMV Web site at www.dmv.ny.gov. These internet services will remain available to New Yorkers on the May 21 furlough day.

In 51 of the state's 62 counties, the County Clerk acts as an agent of the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to operate one or more county motor vehicle offices. County run offices are not affected by the furlough and will be open to provide some DMV services to state motorists.

"When discussing our options under this requirement, we determined that the best way to minimize the impact on both our employees and our customers was to cease most State DMV office operations for one day," said Commissioner Swarts.

Customers who have scheduled driving tests on May 21, 2010 will be notified about rescheduling their tests. Customers who have traffic ticket hearings scheduled before the DMV's Traffic Violation Bureaus in New York City, Buffalo, Rochester and Suffolk County in Hauppauge will receive notices of new hearing dates by mail. In the rest of the state, DMV hearings will be held as scheduled unless the participants and witnesses are otherwise notified. Customers with junk and salvage exams scheduled for the 21st will be contacted for new appointment dates.