Why the sudden rush of so many to renew their Florida drivers license?
A computer overload and motorists rushing to beat a deadline and save money meant hundreds of Brevardians spent much of Monday waiting in long lines at driver license and tag-renewal offices. Advertisement Motorists were trying to renew their license or vehicle registration before today, when most fees associated with driving increased. But the huge demand statewide periodically crashed the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles computer system, causing many of the long lines to move at a snail’s pace. At 5 p.m., about 75 people were still squeezed into Melbourne’s Department of Motor Vehicles office. “I heard about this a long time ago and said I would take care of it in August but I forgot,” said Hilda Wills as she waited at the Merritt Island office. “I’m kicking myself good now.” Lawmakers decided this spring to raise fees in hopes of generating $800 million to chip away at the state’s $7 billion budget shortfall. Driver’s license renewals, annual vehicle registration fees
