NC road test (Raleigh, New Bern, Henderson: appointed, school, DMV) - The Mountain Region including Asheville - City-Data Forum

vikesfanmb · 08-30-2010, 04:17 PM

I'll start out by saying . . . I have a vent/question. My daughter who is 16 years old took her NC road test today for her drivers license. She is a very good driver, conscientious, cautious, smart. She has worked very hard practicing for the test. We get to the Henderson Co DMV today and first off, we were met by a very RUDE examiner (to say the least) who refused to address even the most basic questions my daughter had about getting her license, like how long was it going to be good for and the time restrictions, etc.

He literally refused to answer. Anyways, she went on to take her test and upon coming back, still refused to speak to us until he filled out a long form with comments, etc. Then he turned to us and said (to my daughter's face) that she was not even CLOSE to capable of getting her license to drive, that she had a VERY long ways to go before getting her license, etc. and that we should come back in a week to re-test. HA What the heck? Anyways, he said she was driving too slow and could be "ticketed" for impeding the flow of traffic . . . mind you, doing 40 in a 45 mph zone. Also, he said she completely failed the 2 point turn . . . but the drivers manual and the instruction she was given by school instructed her on a 3 point turn which we practiced night after night. He refused to tell me what a 2 point turn consisted of - as well as refused to tell my daughter, so now we are completely confused. Later, I did call and speak with the gentleman's supervisor becaue I was so incensed at the way he treated her/us . . . she basically took the examiner's side (no big surprise) and proceeded to fax me a pamphlet on what the "3 point turn" consists of, again not 2 point, 3 point!! I guess my main question is, he said she was in "violation of the law" for going so slow. Is this correct? I have a police man who is a neighbor, and he says no way. I mean, give me a break. I drive 5 mph under the speed limit all the time (not on interstate, mind you) but I've never been stopped!! Besides the speed limit is the LIMIT, not the recommended speed. I am just so disappointed and so is my daughter and frankly, just upset at the way we were treated. Very disrespectful and uncalled for behavior by the examiner, practically telling the entire room that she was not capable of having a license nor would she be any time soon - but then telling her to come back in a week to re-test??!! I think we should probably try another office. It was just so embarassing. Also, we just recently moved to western NC from another state and he expected her to know the street names, I guess, because he told her to turn right at so-and-so street, and of course she didn't know and there was NO ROAD SIGN. So again, a total failure on the part of the examiner, in my opinion.

queenofbavaria · 08-30-2010, 05:13 PM

Sorry, I can't say anything about the law and the facts, but I am so sorry for your poor baby. what a terrible experience !
If it was helpful or not, it was good, that you talked to the supervisor, so your daughter just knows, you stand behind her.

even I don't know the facts - driving 40 at a 45 speed limit ? give me a break.

Do you have to go back there for another test or can you go somewhere else ?

I would consider to file another complain in writing too.

good luck to you ! I am sure, this guy worked for the INS in Philly before - I had to deal with this grumpy dudes a lot and met the most unfriendly, inpolite americans in my whole nine years here in the US.
can't wait to meet this guy in hendersonville

1200RT · 08-30-2010, 05:20 PM

Were you in the car with her when she took the driving test? It DOES sound like this guy was a pain in the butt, but is is possible that she didn't do very hot on the test?

Tarheel22 · 08-30-2010, 05:43 PM

maybe they have to pass a test in being rude to be an employee? (no offense to the few that probably exist somewhere in NC).....but my experience as a seasoned driver is no different. I am going to drive an hour to another location because I heard the people there are polite.
After being spoken to rudely (after being ignored for an hour), I waited politely until I had my license in my hands and then let the guy have it. Our tax money pays their salaries! If I acted the way he acted, I would be out of a job!

So any driver's license folks reading this.....if you are the nice ones, KUDOs! If you aren't....there are a few of us who are not going to put up with your bad behavior....even if it means parking in front of the governor's office!

Catbirds · 08-30-2010, 05:44 PM

I am sorry your daughter went through this awful experience. When I was 16, about a hundred years ago, there was this one guy everybody knew and hated so bad, everyone started going to the next town to get their license. Yes, he failed me the first time too. I think some might fail the first timers more often than not. I don't know. Up here, the little old ladies seem to get the mean ones. My little 90 year old neighbor was in tears last time she went. Next time she went, it was fine. Find out where another place is and try there. I do think that rudeness is never good. He sounds like a jerk to me. Good Luck to your daughter on her next try.

roadpony · 08-30-2010, 05:53 PM

Quote:

It DOES sound like this guy was a pain in the butt

Regardless of the OP's daughter's driving skills, "this guy" was not a pain in the butt... that doesn't begin to describe the jerk. He was unconscionably rude and unprofessional. It embarrasses me to think that people like that work for the DMV (I know; I’m not that naïve). I don't care how bad a day that man might have been having or what else is going on in his life outside of work, there is no call for boorish behavior such as that. And for the supervisor not to think anything was wrong… grrrrr…

I would write a letter to the DMV in Raleigh, not the local office. I would also recommend going to a different office for your daughter’s re-test.

One more thing – this is one of my pet peeves

– I have never understood why people call others "gentlemen" when they do not exhibit the first iota of gentlemanly behavior. I hear it all the time in the news media, even hearing law enforcement calling crooks and murderers “gentlemen.” They are men, not gentlemen. (off my soapbox now

)

nimchimpsky · 08-30-2010, 06:07 PM

I'm so sorry to hear the examiner was so rude. All I can say is my wife just tried to take her test and completely failed because they had a LOT of hard, obscure questions on it. In other words, my wife prepared for a long time for the test and felt totally incompetent when it came. They also wouldn't answer her questions, but they weren't rude to her nearly to the extent that they were to you and your daughter. It seems like the driving test in NC is pretty hard core. Makes no sense to me cause at least where I live, it's not exactly NYC traffic, it's all highways and parking lots--not that hard to figure out. She's going to try to go to another DMV next time. Hopefully there's another DMV where the people are more polite and understanding.

Good luck.

queenofbavaria · 08-30-2010, 06:44 PM

whoever knows a DMV with nicer people, please share your information. after our move I have to take the test and I am already worried (after spending 2000 dollars for 35 lessons in germany to get the DL they should just give it to me anyway

)
I guess, I can pre-order a driver's manual ?

ncdragon · 08-30-2010, 06:45 PM

DMV is "supposed" to be cleaning up its image to the taxpayers here in NC. If I may? I'd suggest you call the DMV Director at this address and phone number and let him know what happened. They will most likely want a name of the jerk, (of the lazy supervisor as well)

DMV State Offices
1100 New Bern Avenue, 27697
(919) 715-7000
Monday - Friday 8:00 - 5:00

vikesfanmb · 08-30-2010, 07:46 PM

Thank you for all the replies and support. I truly appreciate it and I know my daughter will too. I certainly do intend to take her to a different DMV office for her re-test (probably next week) however I will also file a formal complaint with the State DMV. He shouldn't get away with being so rude and unprofessional.

In my opinion, the road test should not be subjective and whether you pass or not should not be dependent on what "examiner" you get but it seems that was the case, as many of my daughter's friends passed that drove at just the same rate - or slower - than she did and they were passeed without exception.

And this whole notion of the 2 point turn vs the 3 point turn - well, I still need to iron out the details tomorrrow since I know that is an important part of the test. Again, thanks to everyone who replied!