California to audit DMV amid hourslong wait times, outages

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown is ordering an audit the Department of Motor Vehicles in light of long wait times at field offices.

The state’s department of finance will perform the audit. A Friday letter from Finance Director Keely Bosler tells DMV Director Jean Shiomoto the audit will assess information technology and customer service.

It comes a day after a computer outage crippled more than a third of DMV offices for several hours. The agency says a router issue prevented about 70 offices from processing driver’s license, identification card, and vehicle registration matters.

The DMV has recently faced angry backlash from lawmakers and customers over long lines that have left people waiting hours.

Shiomoto says the DMV welcomes the audit as it works to reduce wait times.