Raleigh DMV license plate office shut down for 'operational and performance deficiencies'

RALEIGH (WTVD) -- The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles said Friday it has closed the privately-operated Raleigh License Plate Agency for operational and performance deficiencies.

In a news release, the DMV said the agency, located at 1100 New Bern Ave., was closed following the results of audits by DMV management. Investigators determined that the deficiencies warranted closure of the office and cancellation of the agency's contract.

"The agency was not following standard operating procedures set forth by the division of Motor Vehicles. They were closed for operational and performance deficiencies," said NCDOT Spokesman John Brockwell.

Investigators said they found inventory discrepancies which could have resulted in customers receiving the wrong sticker, plate, or registration card and discrepancies showing nearly $73,000 in state funds deposited into the contractor's personal account. This was later corrected.

Rudolph Morton told ABC11 his wife, Sheryl, owns the company.

"The discrepancies in the deposits were she did not certify them on time. I want to be very clear on this. There were no money discrepancies. The discrepancies were whether she certified that deposit on time or not," he said.

Morton said the state expected fewer than 12 errors on 12,000 transactions in July without enough training. The termination letter says additional training was provided.

"It's upsetting for the simple reason that you come in here today and you have 100 police and undercover people like we're going to rob somebody or like we're going to hurt somebody and they gave us absolutely zero time to inform our employees that they no longer had a job," he said.

The Raleigh office has been in operation at the New Bern Avenue location since May 3, 2016. The location is the site of the former state vehicle registration office.

The office will re-open at 8 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 14, and will be staffed by DMV employees. All license plate, title and registration services will resume on that date.

Nearby license plate agencies offering vehicle registration services are in Raleigh at 2533 Atlantic Ave., Suite 102, (919) 831-9996, in Cary at 1251 Buck Jones Road, (919) 469-1444, and in Holly Springs at 408 Village Walk Dr., (919) 552-5449. The locations are open Monday through Friday.

In addition, services such as property tax payments and registration renewals can be done online at www.MyNCDMV.com.