News & Columns > Michael P. Neufeld > Third Furlough Friday of November Closes Agencies (Update)

Third Furlough Friday of November Closes Agencies (Update)

Impacts Many State Offices

By Michael P. Neufeld
Friday, November 20, 2009

San Bernardino, CA - Today is the third of three Furlough Fridays scheduled for November by order of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Furlough Fridays are designed to reduce costs of the state government and impact over 235,000 state employees.

The Department of Motor Vehicles and Caltrans are just two of the agencies closed three Fridays each month. The closures are expected to save about $425 million.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

Original Story

San Bernardino, CA - The second Furlough Friday of November is scheduled for today November 13, as ordered by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Friday furloughs of state employees, that started July 10, impacts most state offices and agencies, including the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and Caltrans.

Also impacted is the Silverwood Lake Sector Office which will be open for business Monday through Thursday, with the first three Fridays of each month set for closure due to Furlough Fridays.

Schwarzenegger ordered three furlough days each month, imposed on 235,000 state workers through June 2010. Furlough Fridays are expected to save the state of California roughly $425 million.

Prisons, state parks, state hospitals and other 24-hour care facilities are not directly impacted by the Friday closures. They maintain normal hours of operation, along with the California Highway Patrol and CALFIRE stations, according to the order issued in Sacramento by the governor's office.

For state employees who work in critical positions that cannot be furloughed on the scheduled Fridays, the furlough days can be used at another time.

(Photo by DMV.)

Don't Stand In Line, Go Online

Online options are available 24/7, to DMV customers who visit DMV:

• Schedule office appointments for up to three transactions or for three separate customers
• Renew driver license
• Renew vehicle registration
• Make a change of address
• Register to vote
• Purchase personalized plates
• File a notice of release of liability
• Check the license status of driver's education or traffic schools, new or used vehicle dealers
• File vehicle transfer forms
• Calculate fees and taxes due
• Request refunds
• Find the nearest DMV office, hours of operation and wait times
• Make appointments for both car and motorcycle driving skill tests
• Study the Driver's Handbook, the Motorcycle Handbook, the Parent-Teen Training Guide
• Take interactive driver's license exams
• Answer the most frequently asked questions in extensive archives

Penalties will be waived for licenses or renewals that expire on Fridays when their offices are closed, according to a release issued by the DMV.

The DMV also offers automated services at (800) 777-0133.

This article was first published on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 9:26 am. This article has been viewed 499 times.

Michael P. Neufeld, Senior News Editor, is a graduate of the Dwight Bentel School of Journalism at San Jose State University. His first job out of San Jose State was with the Associated Press in Los Angeles as overnight Radio Editor. Prior to joining RIMOFTHEWORLD.net, Neufeld was editor of two weekly newspapers—THE MOUNTAIN NEWS and CRESTLINE COURIER-NEWS. He also has experience as editor of an employee newspaper for a major utility company and during his tenure as executive director of the San Jose State University Alumni Association served as faculty advisor to the association's monthly newsletter. He also spent eight years in commercial radio doing everything from news to advertising sales and writing commercials to being an announcer and on-air personality. Neufeld is actively involved the mountain communities including serving as master of ceremonies for the Arrowhead Arts Music Festival held each summer.

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of RIMOFTHEWORLD.net. This column is copyrighted by Michael P. Neufeld.