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COVID19 and “Variance”

What is “variance” you may ask?

It is sort of like a privilege permitting businesses to be open, or reopen. Businesses in the Santa Clara County are required to submit the application by 13 July 2020 if they wish to resume their operation. The County will submit this request to the State also by the 13 July as well. Businesses have to demonstrate that they have modified doing business to minimize the spread of COVID19.

THE FOUR BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS ARE:

1- Telework, 2- New Social Distancing Protocol requirements, 3- Capacity limitations, 4- Positive case reporting

After completing the variance application with the county the following businesses will be allowed to reopen:

  • Personal Services, including hair and nail salons, massage therapy, and other body care services
  • Gyms and fitness centers
  • Construction
  • Recreational and athletic activities
  • Gatherings, including for social, economic, religious, cultural, and other purposes
  • Agriculture
  • Hotels and motels
  • Public transit
  • Childcare, summer camps, and children’s activities
  • Pools
  • Outdoor dining
  • Food facilities

By Wassim Yassine,

A-Z Driving School Owner

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Hooray!! 1st drive test reschedule day at DMVs is Friday26June2020

A Message from A-Z Driving School, San Jose, CA

GREAT NEWS folks, now we have a date to work with !!!
For those who’s drive tests were cancelled by the DMV, the DMV is now rescheduling cancelled drive tests starting on Friday June 26. Those who want to schedule a drive test for the first time may be able to take the test sometime in August due to the backlog.

If your Learners Permit is expired and want to take the drive test make sure to apply online for the REAL ID and walk into the DMV 30 min before your drive test time with documents including the certificate of completion.

More over for those who want to do their knowledge test, now you can complete a REAL ID application online from DMV website then go to the DMV office.


**** If you are not an adult yet, remember to bring with you a copy of your “Certificate of Completion of the Drivers Ed course” or you have to back home to get it and then wait in line again. For more info: www.dmv.ca.gov

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All California DMVs reopened with Limited Service, No Drive Tests as of now

We are sharing with you what the DMV is announcing to the public on their website:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2020

DMV Reopens Remaining Field Offices to Public

Starting Thursday, 169 locations will serve customers with appointments, offering limited services

Customers encouraged to use online and expanded virtual services when possible

Sacramento – The California Department of Motor Vehicles on Thursday, June 11, will reopen its remaining field offices that were temporarily closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. With this phase of reopening, employees at 169 field offices will assist customers with current appointments at the specific office and limited transactions that require an in-person visit. Behind-the-wheel drive tests are not yet available, and the DMV continues to recommend that customers use its online services, expanded virtual services and other service channels to complete transactions, including eligible driver license and vehicle registration renewals.

“I continue to encourage Californians to use our online services, the Virtual Field Office, DMV Now kiosks and business partners whenever possible,” DMV Director Steve Gordon said. “Nearly all DMV tasks can be accomplished without an office visit. To keep wait times down and to maintain public health guidelines, I ask you to only visit a DMV office when absolutely necessary and to come prepared.”

Limited service: Employees will continue serving customers with existing appointments and Californians in need of selected transactions that can only be completed in a DMV field office, including:

  • Paying registration for a vehicle impounded because of registration-related issues
  • Reinstating a suspended or revoked driver license
  • Applying for a reduced-fee or no-fee identification card
  • Processing commercial driver license transactions
  • Applying for a disabled person parking placards (this can also be done by mail using the REG 195 form)
  • Adding an ambulance certificate or firefighter endorsement to a driver license
  • Verifying a transit training document to drive a transit bus
  • Processing DMV Express customers for REAL ID transactions, if time and space allow
  • Vehicle verifications

Offices will also offer additional services for commercial drivers, including vehicle inspections and basic control tests. The commercial offices will begin contacting previously scheduled applicants to reschedule the vehicle inspection and basic skills components. The DMV also will resume offering motorcycle drive tests.

Appointments: The DMV has already begun rescheduling appointments canceled during the temporary closure and notifying customers of the new date. Once the DMV has accommodated those customers, the DMV will begin offering a limited number of new appointments.

The DMV plans to resume offering all services to appointment and non-appointment customers in the coming weeks, as space allows. The DMV notes for its customers that the San Bernardino field office is closed until further notice for repairs.

Public health measures: Customers will notice numerous changes to safeguard the health of employees and customers. including: Employees are wearing face coverings and maintaining physical distancing and have access to disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, facial shields, gloves and soap and water. The DMV also is providing hand-washing stations for customer use in select locations. Customers are required to wear a face covering and remain 6 feet apart in line. Customers are offered a text message that will allow them to wait outside the building until notified they are ready to be served. Entry into the building is metered, and customers may experience extended wait times.

Behind-the-wheel drive tests: Behind-the-wheel tests are currently not available due to physical distancing concerns. The DMV plans to resume behind-the-wheel exams for both commercial and non-commercial drivers in the coming weeks. The DMV suspended the tests in March to comply with physical distancing guidelines. The DMV will reschedule canceled appointments for drive tests automatically when testing resumes.

Credit cards: The DMV has expanded credit card and digital wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay) payment options to all offices statewide.

REAL ID:  The DMV has expanded its “DMV Express” option to all field offices, allowing customers to fill out the online application for REAL ID, upload documents at home and receive an expedited experience at a local DMV office. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government extended the REAL ID enforcement date to October 1, 2021, a year later than previously announced, to give people more time to apply.

“We appreciate the public’s patience as we navigate this time of unprecedented challenges,” Director Gordon said. “We will continue to monitor the situation and act in the best interest of our customers and employees.”

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