The D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles, often criticized for poor customer service, is seeking volunteers to participate in a new "tester program."

Volunteers in the program will conduct random information and transaction checks at the DMV’s main and satellite offices.

DMV has scheduled four "community education seminars" Dec. 3-9 to explain how the department operates and to seek volunteers for the new program. The community meetings will begin at 7 p.m. at the following locations:

• Dec. 3 at Rudolph Elementary School, 5200 Second St. NW;

• Dec. 4 at Hardy Middle School, 1819 35th St. NW;

• Dec. 9 at St. Timothy Episcopal Church, 3601 Alabama Ave. SE;

• Dec. 10 at Isle of Patmos Church, Saratoga and Rhode Island avenues NE.

DMV recently announced it would discontinue Saturday hours at its Brentwood, Georgetown and Penn-Branch offices, beginning Dec. 2. The main office at 301 C St. NW will be open on Saturdays from 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. but will be closed on Mondays. The inspection station in Southwest Washington will continue to operate Monday through Saturday.

Copyright 2002, The Common Denominator