DMV Hopes Systems Are Running On Wednesday After Computer Failure

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - A widespread computer outage has affected more than 100 California Department of Motor Vehicles offices including offices in Sacramento, Modesto, Yuba City, Woodland, Roseville and Carmichael. DMV crews have been trying to resolve the issue since it began on Monday, but so far have not been successful.

"I'm disappointed," said Rick Ellingburg, who drove to Sacramento all the way from Sonora on Tuesday with 27 vehicle titles to transfer. "It takes 2 hours and 45 minutes to come down and 2 hours and 45 minutes back!"

Ellingburg found out about the outage when went to the counter at the DMV Business Service Center on Florin Road.

"The system's been down since yesterday," he recounted. "No time when it's going to be back up."

The DMV said the problems started on Monday but Sandra Mascorro told CBS 13 the DMV told her they started last week.

"I came Friday morning and the system was down and they were telling everybody to go ahead and wait inside, knowing they were waiting for no reason at all," she said.

Instead of continuing to wait, Mascorro said an employee scheduled an appointment for her to return on Tuesday.

"And the system is still down and there is nothing they say they can do to help, besides going to Sacramento or some place out of town to get my paperwork fixed," she said. "You know, it's ridiculous!"

The Department released a statement saying: "Crews have been working all night to rebuild the system and get offices back up and running."

A DMV spokesperson told CBS13 that the Department's main computer system was down.

The statement continued to say that the offices affected "will continue providing drive tests, making return appointments, helping with paperwork, and answering customer's questions."

In the meantime, Ellingburg said he'll try to be patient but next time, he'll check first before making the long journey to the DMV.

"I think I'll call in the morning, before we head out again," he said.