As the troubled rollout of the new Minnesota Licensing and Vehicle Registration System (MNLARS) continues, a website to inform the public of the status of MNLARS and capture feedback from frustrated Minnesotans debuted today. The website, which can be found at MNLARSmess.com, will be continually updated with comments from system users and is designed to keep Minnesotans apprised of the latest information.
“Minnesotans are fed up with MNLARS, and rightly so – the system is still not working, and has not worked since its rollout six months ago,” said Senator Scott Newman (R-Hutchinson), chair of the Senate Transportation Finance and Policy Committee. “This new website will allow those impacted to share their feedback, see what others around the state are saying, and keep updated on what happens in the legislature come February 20. My message to those frustrated citizens is, ‘We’re listening, and we’ve got your back.’”
The website is run by the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus in conjunction with Senator Newman’s office and Senate Transportation Finance and Policy Committee staff. The public is encouraged to submit feedback on their experiences with MNLARS and visit the site often to stay up-to-date on the latest news. Once feedback starts coming in, the site will be updated with a map so users can see the widespread problems with the system.
“For months, officials from the Department of Public Safety and Minnesota IT Services have promised fixes, but those fixes are not coming quickly enough. We want to keep the pressure on Gov. Dayton, because his administration is responsible for this mess.” Senator Newman continued. “The state has had over a decade of time and more than $93 million in funding to get this right, but they have not lived up to the expectations of the millions of Minnesota taxpayers who have funded the project. The legislature can provide oversight, but the administration must be held accountable.”
Senator Scott Newman is in his third term representing Senate District 18, which includes communities in McLeod, Meeker, Sibley, and Wright counties. He also serves as chair of the Senate Transportation Finance and Policy Committee.