SYRACUSE -- Today, Departments of Motor Vehicles in some counties across the state were supposed to be closed, so workers could take a furlough day. However, because a federal judge blocked those furloughs, DMVs were open, and customers say it's a good thing.
The DMV in Western Lights Plaza in Syracuse was packed. Many customers say Friday is the only day they can get to the DMV, so the closure would set them back a whole week.
"I need my car. I'm supposed to be going out of town today to go to a wake, and I have to get to work," says Carol Ferrera, who was at the DMV. "I drive my kids back and forth to work every day they work on the weekends, so I'd really be out of a car the whole weekend if it wasn't open today."
For others, like Norm McKernan, it's about business. He works at 317 Driving Academy and depends on the DMV sticking to regular hours.
"When I want a road test, I'd like to have it that day," he says. He was at the DMV Friday helping a client schedule a road test.
Governor Paterson included the furloughs in an emergency spending bill, and it was passed by the state legislature. Lawmakers could not amend the bill to remove the furloughs. They had to approve it as it was or reject it. Under the furlough plan, about 100,000 state employees would have to take a day off each week without pay. Governor Paterson says it would have saved the state $30 million a week.
U.S. District Judge Lawrence Kahn was the one who blocked the furlough. He has scheduled a hearing May 26 on the issue.
Click this link for NYS Department of Motor Vehicles
