Senator Torrey Westrom applauded Governor Dayton for assuming sole responsibility for Minnesota’s new failed automotive licensing system, MNLARS. During a Tuesday, March 6 press conference, Governor Mark Dayton stated in response to a question about MNLARS, “I’ve said all along, I am to blame for this. My administration is to blame. I am to blame.” This stands in stark contrast to Governor Dayton’s previous comments in November where he claimed that “99 percent of transactions are processed smoothly” by the MNLARS system.

“I applaud Governor Dayton for finally taking responsibility for MNLARS and the mess that this failed automotive licensing system has created for car owners, dealers, lenders, and licensing officials statewide,” said Senator Westrom. “In November, during a Senate Transportation Committee hearing, I challenged the Governor’s agency heads, stating that he was receiving bad advice when he claimed that the system was 99 percent efficient. Back then, I implored him and his staff to make executive decisions to correct the problem. While it has taken months for the Governor’s office to finally acknowledge the mammoth problem that is MNLARS, the Senate is grateful that he is doing so now. The first step in finding a solution is admitting there is a problem, and we finally have that.”

For over eight years, Minnesota has been developing a new motor vehicle and driver’s licensing system, MNLARS. Previously to MNLARS, Minnesota operated the thirty-year-old Legacy System that still used floppy disks for data storage. Obviously, an upgrade was needed. However, after an over $90 million investment by state taxpayers, MNLARS is still causing problems for Minnesotans and the licensing bureau officials who work with the system daily. One of the major criticisms of the Dayton administration’s MNLARS rollout was inadequate testing of the system prior to operation, even though many agency staff members warned that it was not ready. The Senate has been investigating this issue for the past several months to find a working solution.

If you have had an issue with MNLARS, please share your concern by visiting www.mnlarsmess.com. Or, reach out to Senator Westrom directly at 855-407-7386, by email at sen.torrey.westrom@senate.mn, or by mail at Room 3201, Minnesota Senate Building, 95 University Ave W., St. Paul, MN 55155.