'Secret' DMV office serves California lawmakers, Capitol staffers

In California, long lines are a fact of life at Department of Motor Vehicles offices across the state, but for California lawmakers and their legislative staffers, there's an alternative.

Hearst's Sacramento television station, KCRA, has learned of a DMV office that is not open to the public.

It's located inside the Legislative Office Building on N Street, adjacent to the state Capitol.

The office, inside Room 121, has no markings on the door and was locked when KCRA visited it on Thursday, but after knocking, a worker confirmed it was a DMV office and said it's set up to handle customer complaints that escalate to the legislative branch.

However, having a private office for legislators and their Capitol staff is a source of frustration for Assemblyman Jim Patterson, R-Fresno. His request for an official DMV audit was denied when three Democrats -- Senators Ricardo Lara, of Los Angeles; Ben Allen, of Santa Monica; and Jim Beall, of San Jose -- abstained from voting.

"I've been here six years and I'm not surprised that legislators have given themselves special privileges and perks that typical Californians just don't get," Patterson said

When asked how constituents might feel about a special office for lawmakers, Lara wasn't too sure about the office's purpose.

In this file photo, the line outside the DMV office in South Los Angeles is long on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012. In this file photo, the line outside the DMV office in South Los Angeles is long on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012. Photo: Luis Sinco, TNS Photo: Luis Sinco, TNS Image 1 of / 18 Caption Close 'Secret' DMV office serves California lawmakers, Capitol staffers 1 / 18 Back to Gallery

"Well, I think it's open to the public, if I recall," Lara said. "I'm not sure, I haven't used it."

The special office, which has a locked door, is not open to the public without a referral from lawmakers.

DMV officials told KCRA 3 that the special office near the Capitol has two staffers who handle 10,000 requests dealing with constituent questions or concerns.

The department didn't deny serving lawmakers and their staffers, but insisted that 90 percent of the work done there is to solve consumer problems brought to their attention by lawmakers.

As for his reason for abstaining from voting on the audit, Lara believes more is going to be done to fix the problem.

"An audit is only going to delay this another eight months," Lara said. "The governor has committed to me he's going to work on this issue effectively, immediately."

Patterson charged that Democratic lawmakers were pressured by Gov. Jerry Brown to abstain.

"We know for a fact that the governor weighed in with these members, told them expressly not to vote for it," Patterson said.

Lara denied that, telling KCRA, "No, absolutely not. We actually talked to his office and said, 'What are we doing now?'"

Allen told reporters that Brown called him "to explain how his office would hold the DMV accountable." Allen added the audit would have taken too long and revealed nothing new.

While there will be no audit, DMV is getting an additional $16 million to hire 230 more workers at field offices across the state.

The department announced it is also adding Saturday office hours at 60 field offices and is now allowing customers to bring food and drinks with them.

"We're throwing everything at this that we can," Brown's office said in a statement. "And we're grateful for the legislature's quick action to approve and fund more DMV staff. We share their strong commitment to getting this fixed."

But Patterson remained frustrated by the lack of a comprehensive audit.

"We are being sentenced again to long, interminable lines with no end in sight," Patterson said. "The bureaucracy cannot fix itself."

DMV Director Jean Shiomoto declined KCRA's request for an interview.