By David Nakamura
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, June 22, 2008

A brief power outage yesterday morning disabled a data server for the D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles, causing service centers in Northwest and Southwest Washington to open three hours late, officials said.

The service center at the Shops at Georgetown Park, in the 3200 block of M Street NW, and at 95 M St. SW were scheduled to open at 8:15 a.m. When the offices finally opened about 11:30 a.m., residents who were trying to renew driver's licenses or conduct other business were greeted by long lines. Some had arrived earlier, only to be turned away by signs saying the service centers were closed.

There were also some delays at the DMV's Southwest Washington inspection station, spokeswoman Janis Hazel said, but employees were still able to inspect vehicles.

Teri Hebert, who lives downtown, arrived at the Georgetown DMV at 10 a.m. to try to trade in her California license for a District one. But she found a sign saying the office was closed, so she went home and returned at 11:45 a.m. The line of customers snaked out the door and through the atrium of the mall.

Thirty minutes later, Hebert had been given a number and was waiting to be called, as were dozens of others.

"Of course I was a little frustrated," she said.

DMV officials learned of the problem about 7:45 a.m., Hazel said. With the data server offline, clerks could turn on their computers but not access necessary information. Technicians were called to switch the server to a backup generator, Hazel said, which got the offices up and running.

Lisa Miller, who lives in Dupont Circle, had arrived at the Georgetown DMV at 7:45 a.m., hoping to be among the first served. A newlywed, she was trying to change her last name.

"I went home and came back," Miller said about noon while filling out paperwork in a cramped seating area.

Hazel recommended that residents renew their driver's licenses days in advance of their expiration dates in case similar unexpected delays occur. Renewals may be done up to 50 days in advance, she said.

"It's when people wait until the last minute that they become upset," Hazel said.