The same issue with DMV that MEXICOWANDERER identified with CA existed in the mid-1980s in San Diego when I lived here for five years following retirement from the US Navy.
In 1988 or so they changed to a mandatory appointment schedule approach. Want a license, call and schedule a time TO THE MINUTE! License renewal, see you in El Cajon at 1:14 PM on Tuesday.
Show up one minute late, start all over.
surprisingly, show up a couple of minutes early and they would see you at 1:14 PM.
Sounds like that system is no longer working.
