Fees up but motor vehicle agency strapped

TALLAHASSEE - Florida last year taxed motorists' wallets. Now, it's taxing their patience.

The Legislature in 2009 dramatically raised a wide range of fees collected by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Yet, the agency is so strapped for cash it's skimping on supplies, travel and other expenses, closed some offices and frozen hiring, leaving 335 positions vacant.

That's contributed to longer lines at driver's license offices and more busy signals for motorists who phone the department.

The service problems are due to a budgeting glitch and overly optimistic forecast of how much money the fee increases would bring in as well as new federal identification requirements.