FAST FACTS:
(Memphis 02/20/2010) It's rare you see an inspection station without some sort of line. A News Channel 3 investigation found drivers were waiting one to three hours to go through inspections.
If you're sick and tired of the waiting game, Memphis Mayor AC Wharton says a change is coming.
"We're not going to accept the status quo. We're going to try to move it from a bottom ranking to take it to one of the top services that any city is offering."
Starting Monday the White Station, Lamar and Washington Avenue Locations will stay open until 7:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Wharton says budget issues have played a factor in slowing down the process.
Our investigation found, since 2007 the department has lost 4 full time inspectors. Part time positions where cut by half. A problem Wharton says he inherited.
"The easy way out would be to say, it wasn't me, I wasn't here when the council pulled that money out. It's not me. Well, it's mine now. I'm city mayor now."
Wharton says he's accepting the responsibility of fixing the problem. In addition to extended hours, his team is looking for a way to make getting an inspection as easy as logging onto the internet.
"I have my research team, innovation people, coming up with a method that will allow you to electronically make appointments. It will help us deploy our sources and schedule our work load," Wharton said.
This summer the city will open a six lane inspection station near Appling Road. City Council still has to approve money to hire more workers that vote could come in the next couple of months.
- Drivers Complaining About Inspection Stations
- Mayor Wharton Making Changes
- Electronic System May Be Next
(Memphis 02/20/2010) It's rare you see an inspection station without some sort of line. A News Channel 3 investigation found drivers were waiting one to three hours to go through inspections.
If you're sick and tired of the waiting game, Memphis Mayor AC Wharton says a change is coming.
"We're not going to accept the status quo. We're going to try to move it from a bottom ranking to take it to one of the top services that any city is offering."
Starting Monday the White Station, Lamar and Washington Avenue Locations will stay open until 7:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Wharton says budget issues have played a factor in slowing down the process.
Our investigation found, since 2007 the department has lost 4 full time inspectors. Part time positions where cut by half. A problem Wharton says he inherited.
"The easy way out would be to say, it wasn't me, I wasn't here when the council pulled that money out. It's not me. Well, it's mine now. I'm city mayor now."
Wharton says he's accepting the responsibility of fixing the problem. In addition to extended hours, his team is looking for a way to make getting an inspection as easy as logging onto the internet.
"I have my research team, innovation people, coming up with a method that will allow you to electronically make appointments. It will help us deploy our sources and schedule our work load," Wharton said.
This summer the city will open a six lane inspection station near Appling Road. City Council still has to approve money to hire more workers that vote could come in the next couple of months.
