I have lived, for the most part, in Kennewick since 1967. I remember when a visit to the DMV was absolute torture. The scene from Zootopia with the sloth working behind the counter of the DMV, known as “Flash Flash Hundred Yard Dash” is no exaggeration on how a visit to the DMV typically went in offices around the country, and very definitely here in Kennewick. Employees there were paid by the hour, and they did not care how long it took them to get anything done. It all paid the same to them. It was bizarre. It was a surreal experience to see how reality seemed to stop when you walked through those doors.

But there were many years of citizen complaints to their legislators, and eventually there was a very real push, I believe (in the late 90s, maybe?) when the DMV went through some very substantial and noticeable improvements. I am pleasantly surprised to say that in recent years, the DMV office in Kennewick has truly been a success story for how the proper application of brain power and technology can lead to extremely efficient services by the government for the people, as it should be.

I’m not saying that it’s always perfect. There are still human beings working working behind the counters, and as you know, some human beings could really use a little work. But buy and large, I have found most of the people there to be “guardedly friendly and personable“. What I mean by that, is that I do believe that they continue to face a lot of angry, and stressed people who are only in that office because they are forced to by the government, and they walk in the door with an attitude.

DMV employees have a very difficult job, and, it has to be very tiring to try to greet each new customer with a happy face, knowing that it’s fairly unlikely that the customer is going to be similarly friendly. Most of us walk in there a bit resentful for having to pay the exorbitant cost simply to exercise our God-given right to move about.

So, I would like to give the Kennewick, DMV a 4.5 star rating, but google, does not allow that so I have to either round up or round down. And for me, a five star rating indicates “I love it“ and implies that nothing can be improved. So, I rate them a four, with the understanding that they probably deserve another half star, but they definitely do still have a little room for growth. Overall, in my book, anything that I rate 4 to 5 stars is a positive rating to be proud of, and I do recommend that if a person has a choice, to choose the Kennewick DMV on Clearwater. It’s about as close to a pleasant experience as you will find in working with the government.