Suzanne's Mom's Blog

Photo: Sarah Matusek/The Christian Science Monitor.
At Colorado’s roving Department of Motor Vehicles — a bus — people experiencing homelessness and others can get an ID.

Some kind of ID is necessary in life — to apply for a job, get a bank account, rent an apartment, and sometimes to vote. That’s why Colorado has decided everyone should be able to get legal identification. The state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is making it happen.

Sarah Matusek writes at the Christian Science Monitor, “Radio in hand, Steven Rustemeyer ushers the next person aboard the bus. … This bus has no rows of seats, no driver or destination. This is a project of the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles – a DMV on wheels. It sits parked with an office inside – complete with computer, printer, fingerprint reader, and vision test chart. 

“ ‘It’s easier that way,’ says Mr. Rustemeyer, who got a new ID from the mobile clinic earlier this year. Homeless for eight years since he aged out of foster care, he says he appreciates not having to pay bus fare to head to the brick-and-mortar office. The bus shows up once a month at a nonprofit whose job readiness program he attends – and where he’s helping out today. The stop is one of several across the state. …

“As it issues IDs and licenses to hard-to-reach Coloradans, the DMV2GO program blunts bureaucracy by saving time and travel to traditional sites. Officially launched last year, the mobile program has issued around 11,000 documents as of September, stopping by incarceration sites, homeless shelters, universities, and rural community hubs. Given how IDs are key to securing housing, work, and other basics, the goal is to ensure equitable access to identity services for all, says Desiree Trostel, the program manager.

‘It’s important to “meet people where they’re at,” ‘ Ms. Trostel says, ‘regardless of circumstance or location.’

“Mobile staff members report more enjoyment on the job, too. Customers on the road are ‘a lot happier to come and see us,’ says Liz Kuhlman, an upbeat licensing technician on the bus.

“In mountainous Archuleta County, where there is no state DMV, Warren Brown says he and his wife saw the problem up close. At their former insurance business, part of the job meant helping older customers navigate license services online. 

“ ‘In my mind, this just didn’t have to be that way,’ says the county commissioner, who contacted the state for help. His constituents were first in line to benefit from the formal rollout of DMV2GO in 2022. …

“Customers can apply for or renew driver’s licenses or ID cards, including out-of-state transfers. The clinic doesn’t offer knowledge tests or print the physical card on-site (those will arrive later by mail), but it does offer temporary ones. …

“The Florida Licensing on Wheels program, or FLOW, has operated since 1988, says David Brown, a FLOW program manager. Beyond making regular stops, it’s also grown to respond to manmade and natural disasters. … ‘In order for you to start the process of rebuilding after a disaster, you need those solid credentials,’ he says.

“Rebuilding can also mean navigating society after incarceration. That’s why DMV2GO’s list of stops includes sites like the Jefferson County jail. …

“Convenience aside, mobile DMVs also aren’t without challenges. Spotty internet access in rural areas, for one, can complicate service. And in Colorado, demand is high for the program that currently involves four licensing technicians and three vehicles. The state says it’s gathering data on DMV2GO’s impact and hopes to expand. 

“That demand is clear at a recent stop at a public library in rural Westcliffe when a dozen people arrive ahead of the clinic’s opening at 10 a.m. Though a couple of locals note the wait, those in line still appreciate the service.

“ ‘This is awesome,’ says John Van Doren, a retiree here for a license renewal. ‘Very convenient.’ “

More at the Monitor, here.