Statewide DMV computer short circuit disrupts Gilroy office

Update: The DMV’s computer difficulties were fixed Tuesday afternoon, according to a DMV spokeswoman.

A line of people holding pink slips and traffic tickets swarmed around the front door of the Gilroy Department of Motor Vehicles on 10th Street Tuesday morning, being turned away by a staff person at the door because of a statewide DMV computer failure. 

“Sorry, the system is down, and we don’t know when it will be up,” the employee told a group of people outside the building. 

DMV staff looked at people’s paperwork to identify items that could be done online or by mail, and rescheduled appointments for later in the week. 

“We’re checking computers constantly, waiting for something to change,” said DMV manager Cynthia Falcone. 

Behind-the-wheel driving tests were still being conducted, Falcone said. 

Gerald Morrich, 49-year-old Gilroy resident and owner of All Pro Towing, said he came to the DMV to register a newly purchased car in his name before he ships the car tomorrow to another state for a trip he is taking. 

“I’ve got to get on a plane tomorrow, and if I get pulled over out-of-state, it’s going to look like I’ve got incomplete paperwork,” Morrich said. “I wanted someone here to sign something at least saying that I at least showed up here today and tried, in case that happens, but they won’t do that.”

William Smith, 50, waited with his 80-year-old mother Joyce Masters to turn in some paperwork for a car she recently sold. 

“People are dealing with getting screwed today,” Smith said. 

Jessica Gonzalez, spokeswoman from the DMV said the failure was caused by two shortages that effected all DMV offices around California, and that the shortage would probably last at least another couple of hours. 

“I’m guessing tomorrow is going to be crazy,” Gonzalez said. “It usually is for a couple of days after something like this happens.”