The next day, I got up early and as soon I finished my routine of exercising and swimming, I had breakfast with Lynda and rushed to North Las Vegas. When I got to DMV, I noticed there were several people already lined up for something including the driver’s tests.
I went to the desk and told the girl at the desk that I am there to take place for anybody who doesn’t show up for the test.
It appeared to me as the girl at the desk was expecting me to be there which could be due to my conversation their supervisor the other day. I was told to sit on certain bench where she can see me.
There were several instructors who also siting in that area and waiting for the folks to be tested on the computers inside the building and come out for the practical tests. As soon as somebody comes out with the candidate who passed the written test, one of the instructors go with the person to do the driving test.
That routine was carried out very punctually.
It wasn’t easy for me just sit there and watch what was going on, but I didn’t have any choice, did I?
I also noticed that the driving tests were conducted by those instructors without taking any lunch breaks. I guess they wanted to get it done as soon as they can.
I managed to get a sandwich and a drink while watching the instructors taking the folks for tests and bringing the back. Some of those folks who came back with the instructors, didn’t appear to be happy and I assumed that they didn’t pass the tests.
In any case, I repeated the same practice whole week, and nobody called sick or cancelled the appointment.
On the weekend, I thought I should talk to Lynda about what I was trying to accomplish as I wasn’t sure if anybody will ever not show up for their driving tests.
I took her out on Saturday for lunch and just casually mentioned that we with Canadian driver’s license are allowed only for so many days to drive in Nevada.
She said, she didn’t know that. She added but you came from the states and should be able to drive here.
I said I had driver’s license in the state of Illinois. I said, yes, a valid driver’s license from another state is generally accepted for driving in Nevada. Nevada recognizes licenses issued by other states and countries and they are allowed to drive for certain period of time. However, if you become a permanent resident of Nevada, you will need to obtain a Nevada driver’s license within a specific period of timeframe.
She said does it mean that we are now permeant residents of Nevada.
I said of course we are. We have been living here for more than three months, and we need to get a Nevad driver’s license to continue to drive in Nevada otherwise we will be subject to legal charges.
She said how the heck the local police would know that we are Canadians and driving illegally here in Nevada.
I said perhaps the “trigger” would be the license plate of our car which says Ontario.
She said why don’t we just change the license plate.
I said, to change the license plate we need to have Nevada driver’s license.
She said what’s stopping you from getting a driver’s license here in Nevada?
I said I must have a legal status to apply and go through the written as well as practical driver’s test.
She said, are you saying that we jumped the gun to buy a property here without going through the realities?
I said I may have been a little too quick to decide but I am sure there’s a way we can resolve it.
She said do you have any idea when and how you will be able to resolve it?
I said I found a way to get around it, I am working on it, therefore, you don’t have to worry about it.
I continued – I want you to know that I am not doing anything illegal.
She said I trust you to continue whatever you think is right thing to do.
At that stage, I didn’t think it was necessary to go over and explain what I was planning to do.
On Monday and every day following that, I went to DMV in North Las Vegas and waited for somebody not to show up for his or her appointment.
In the middle of the next week, I was sitting on the same bench watching the people coming and going then I heard my name. I turned around to see a guy with a clipboard in his hands was looking for me. I thought there is God after all.
I went in the office with the guy with the clipboard, and he showed me to sit where a Personal Computer (PC) was located.
He explained to me that a computerized written driver’s test will assesses my knowledge of road rules and traffic signs through a series of multiple-choice questions presented on the screen of the computer. He also said the test is divided into two sections – one road signs and the other about general driving knowledge. Furthermore, he said there are 100 questions, and you need to score 80 percent or higher, to pass. He said you got only 60 minutes.
He tried to explain how to use the computer, I said I know how to use the computer, and he pushed the timer to start the test.
I found the test was designed carefully. While there were some misleading ways of asking some of those questions, but I thought they were reasonably simple questions to answer.
I finished all questions in less than 40 minutes, but I was told to review them just to be on a safe side.
Finally, the guy came and pushed a couple of keys on the computer to print the test with the conclusion which he didn’t let me see. He told me to wait for him outside.
It didn’t take more than 5 minutes for him to come out. He called somebody and handed me over to him for the driver’s test.
To make a long story short, I tried my best not to be cocky and went through step by step the test following the instructions and looking back at the instructor as he was a God.
When we got back what all he said to me was, wait there, and somebody will come and see you. I didn’t bother even asking whether I passed the test or not.
It didn’t take too long for somebody to call my name and when I got in, he handed me a bunch of papers and explained to me that the driver’s license will be deliver to me in a couple of weeks and in the meanwhile the papers I got were good enough for me to continue to drive in Nevada.
Once I came out from that office, I went to the other desk outside the office and ask to see the supervisor who came out immediately and said congratulations, doctor. He said you scored 97 percent. I thanked him for being so understanding. He said is there anything else he can do?
I said I need to get my license plate changed.
He said I am assuming you got the ownership papers with you.
I said, yes, sir.
I said come with me I will get somebody to take care of you.
The time I got back home in Henderson; with the Nevada license plate on the car, I felt like I was somebody.
As soon as I got in, Lynda shouted where have you been? Adam called a couple of times.
I said I will call him back. But the good news is that we got the Nevada license plate, and you don’t have to be worried about anything.
She said thanks God.
When I called Adam, he spoke to me several minutes about the project he was working on and what he was faced with.
I explained to him that I would go to Ottawa if he needed me, but it should be his decision to do whatever he feels comfortable with.
He told me that he was also having some problems with a couple of users in DND. He said they have been asking when your dad will be back?
I said to Adam, if you feel that my being there for a week or two will help him with the users as well as with the consultants who were working for him.
He said perhaps that is not a bad idea, dad.
I told him I will discuss this with his mom and get back to him.
When I got back in the living room Lynda was curious to know why Adam was calling me?
I tried to explain to her that there could be a couple of reasons and perhaps I should go there for a couple of weeks to help him.
She said if that’s going to help Adam, I don’t have any problem with that.
She also asked me if she needs to change her driver’s license.
I said she doesn’t have to worry about that as now we got the Nevada license plate and the chances of getting stopped by a cop, are not that great.
I also offered her my help to do shopping and whatever else she needs before I go away.
She liked that idea.
She told me that she feels comfortable enough to live there when I am away.
She also asked me if I will stay in our home or in a hotel in the downtown of Ottawa?
I said it doesn’t make any sense not to stay in our home.
Once we finished talking, I asked her to make a reservation to go to Ottawa as soon as possible but come back after two weeks.
