Following the Senate Transportation Finance and Policy Committee’s oversight hearing on the troubled rollout of the Minnesota Licensing and Registration System (MNLARS), Senator Scott Newman (R-Hutchinson) issued the following statement:

“Today’s committee hearing illustrated – in vibrant detail – the long list of problems with MNLARS and I thank the Minnesotans who were willing to testify on their experiences using the system.

“We heard from consumers who have been penalized for processing delays that are not fault of their own. We heard from deputy registrars whose staff is working hundreds of hours in overtime, dealing with lines out the door, and using a computer system that does not work. We heard from auto dealers who cannot finalize vehicle purchases because of severe title delays; according to Department of Public Safety (DPS) Commissioner Dohman, there are 300,000 vehicle titles in backlog. The failed rollout of MNLARS is similar to the failure of MNsure – it is costing people their livelihood.

“Since 2008, taxpayers have spent over $90 million on a computer system that is not functional and is being patched with ‘temporary fixes’. MNLARS was rolled out in July; that’s nearly four months of attempting to ‘fix’ a problem that should never have happened in the first place. Instead of a temporary ‘band-aid’, this software should have never been rolled out if it was plagued with problems.

“Myself and my fellow legislators will continue to insist this problem be dealt with in a timely and satisfactory manner. Minnesotans are counting on us to do the right thing.”

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.