DMV now fully operational

RICHMOND, Va.(WAVY) - Virginians trying to get a driver's license or ID card in person were out luck for a full week, but officials said Wednesday that computer access had been restored to all agencies.

In a news release, the DMV said it will have all hands on deck when the computer service is fully restored. DMV is also going to extend its hours on Thursday and Friday until 6 p.m. at all 74 locations.

The DMV is also extending its Saturday hours, on the holiday weekend, at 14 locations. In Hampton Roads, the Chesapeake, Hampton and Virginia Beach-Buckner offices are on that list.

DMV estimates as many as 45,000 customers have been impacted by the service disruption, which began August 25.

If your license or ID card expired during the service disruption, the DMV is extending their validity by 20 days. For example, licenses that expired August 25, 2010 will be valid until September 14, 2010. Customers who renew licenses before the revised expiration date will not be required to provide proof of their U.S. citizenship or legal presence.

Police won't be ticketing people whose driver's license expires between August 25, 2010 and September 30, 2010, due to the computer system problems. Police enforcement of expired licenses will be reinstated October 1, 2010.

The Virginia Information Technologies Agency has been working tirelessly to fix the computer outage that affected nearly 30 state agencies. The outage also prompted Gov. Bob McDonnell to call for an independent third party to investigate the problems, including whether contractor Northrop Grumman should reimburse the state for lost business and productivity.

At the state tax department, the outage prevented taxpayers from filing tax returns and making payments. But any filings or payments that are late because of the computer problems will not be assessed penalties or interest, the agency said on its website.

A spokeswoman for the Board of Elections did not immediately provide details of the effects on the agency.

VITA and its corporate partner, Northrop Grumman, have been criticized in scathing reports from the General Assembly's investigative arm, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, for cost overruns, service outages, slow service and delays that have paralyzed state agencies numerous times since the agency was established in 2003.

VITA's 10-year, $2.4 billion contract with the government contracting giant is the largest in Virginia history with a single vendor.

For more information, call 1-888-337-4782 or  go online at www.dmvNOW.com .

The Department of Motor Vehicles anticipates a high customer volume after the outage is restored. When the outage is resolved, the DMV will be staffed to full capacity to meet increased service demands.