38 MOTOR VEmCLE DEPUTY REGISTRARSTable 2.4: Deputy Registrar Errors on LongApplications, Type and Frequency, 1992CategoryOdometerLien InformationIncompleteTax-FreeIncomplete TitleApplicationBill <strong>of</strong> SaleIncompleteSupportingDocumentsMiscellaneousPercent <strong>of</strong>DescriptionAll EmusOmissions and alterations in <strong>the</strong> odometer state- 13.5%ment, including missing readings, alterations,and lower readings than recorded on former title.Failure to follow correct procedures in <strong>the</strong> re- 14.4lease <strong>of</strong> lien or repossession when lien not perfected.Errors in calculation and required information 16.3for excise tax, registration tax, base values ando<strong>the</strong>r taxes, including any exemption information.Omissions, errors, and alterations on <strong>the</strong> title ap- 14.4plication, including name, date <strong>of</strong> birth anddriver license number, and information aboutbase value, insurance policy, motorcycle enginenumber, trade-in, and signatures and dates ..MiSSing, inaccurate, or altered bills <strong>of</strong> sale, in- 12.6cluding date, signature, joint owners, disclosure,and duplicate title information.Missing or incomplete documents, including 4.4court pap~rs, corrected title applications, receipts,photos, pro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> death, pro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> ownership,and pro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> name change.Includes specific categories for verification, issu- 24.3ance <strong>of</strong> wrong plate or sticker, failure to issuenew plate when required, and salvage renewal.Also includes o<strong>the</strong>r miscellaneous situations,usually accompanied by an explanation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>specific problem.Note: Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.Source: Department <strong>of</strong> Public Safety.cation (14.4 percent), and odometer readings that were missing, altered, or lowerthan previous readings (l3.5 percent). Error rate comparisons in Table 2.5 showthat:• Large deputies have lower average error rates (1.5 percent) than smalldeputies (2.5 percent).• Public deputies have lower average error rates (1.6 percent) thanprivate deputies (1.8 percent).
CUSTOMER SERVICE 39Table 2.5: Error Rates by Size and Type <strong>of</strong> DeputyRegistrar, 1992AnnualNumber <strong>of</strong>Size Categorl Transactions Private Public TotalSmall 60,000 1.4 1.5 1.5Total 1.8 1.6 1.7Source: <strong>Office</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Legislative</strong> <strong>Auditor</strong> analysis <strong>of</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Public Safety data.SUMMARYOverall, we found that most customers receive good service from deputy registrars.Almost all residents live within 15 miles <strong>of</strong> a deputy registrar- and most peoplewait less than 5 minutes before being served. We did not find large differencesbetween public and private deputies. Private deputies have slightly better hours,and public deputies have slightly lower error rates. There are significant differencesbetween large and small deputies. Large deputies have longer customerwaiting times, though <strong>the</strong>y <strong>of</strong>fer better hours and have smaller error rates.