Long lines form at Connecticut DMV offices following office shut-down

NORWALK, Conn. (WABC) -- There were massive lines Tuesday at the Department of Motor Vehicles in Connecticut, with some people waiting for hours as the DMV reopened after closing offices for a week for computer outages.

"Enjoy your five, six, seven hour wait, have fun" said one customer, Dan Robb, who didn't mean to be the bearer of bad news. He just wanted to warn others on line outside the DMV.

"It was only 15 minutes to get in, but then you sit and sit," Robb said. "They run through about ten numbers an hour."

Which meant a waiting game for the hundreds who flocked to the DMV office in Norwalk, standing on a line that stretched out the door, a scene that was playing out at branch offices throughout the state.

"It's extremely slow. I mean they've been stuck on the same number, I timed it actually, one number they were stuck on for 20 minutes," said Diane Eppert of Norwalk.

"You're just sitting there and saying, oh there's only five more in front of me, it's going to be soon, and it's not really that soon," said Gail Benkwitt of New Fairfield.

The reason: Tuesday marked the first day offices reopened after being partially shut down for a week while the state upgraded its computer systems, ironically making it easier for drivers to conduct transactions online and thus avoid a trip in person.

Officials predicted that the first day back would be a rough one.

"We ask the public to please, please be patient as we are seeing the lines are out here," said Connecticut DMV Commissioner Andres Ayala, Jr. "But we are steadily working to address all those customers and take care of them as they come in."

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Still, there was a different kind of gridlock for drivers: some waiting six, seven hours. Their verdict:

"I don't know what more can be said, but this is a fiasco," said Kevin Duffy of Stamford.

The deadline for licenses and registrations set to expire this week has been pushed back until October. State officials hope the kinks will be worked out of the system by then.

Governor Dan Malloy reminded drivers via Twitter there would be extra time to renew their licenses.

Even though Ayala had urged people to wait a couple weeks before showing up, many arrived in the early morning hours. The line wrapped around the Wethersfield branch office and through the parking lot at the branch in Hamden. Some people brought lawn chairs.

Ayala on Tuesday urged customers to be patient and reminded them that a 60-day extension on expiration dates for all driver's licenses, ID cards and vehicle registrations has been granted through Oct. 10.

The DMV was able to offer upgraded online services a few days early, over the weekend. The improvements affect registration-related services, including enhancements to online renewals. Customers can also check for items that can hold up a registration renewal, such as unpaid property taxes, lack of insurance and delinquent parking violations.

Additionally, customers can now use the website to also reprint a registration certificate, and order special license plates and replacements for damaged license plates.

Gov. Malloy told customers that there was no need to go to the DMV offices Tuesday.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)