The Rhode Island Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has successfully entered the launch stage of their new $20 million computer system – dubbed “RIMS” – and is currently servicing residents, by appointment only, until Monday, July 17 as employees get trained with the new standard.

“DMV employees, alongside their project partners from DXC Technology, worked through the weekend and today to bring us to this point,” said Robert S. Hull, director of the Rhode Island Department of Revenue. “I appreciate the effort they have made on behalf of all Rhode Islanders.”

The new Windows-based system backs up about 70 years of DMV records and modernizes various back-end services utilized by DMV employees. The system is an unprecedented update for the department, which replaced a computer system that was put into place about 40 years ago, according to DMV spokesman Paul Grimaldi.

“From a functional perspective we’ve moved from late ’70s, early ’80s into at least this decade,” Grimaldi said, adding excitedly that the new system finally allows for the use of a computer mouse, whereas the old system involved use of a mainframe, which could only be manipulated through keystrokes.

“[The new system], over time, will allow us to do a number of things. One is it will expand our online capabilities over time,” Grimaldi continued. “From a day-to-day perspective, what we expect to see is transaction times to drop; the time spent at the counter with a customer service representative we are hoping to see drop over the next six months.”

The updated system is also more secure than its pre-Internet predecessor, Grimaldi said, which is an important factor as the DMV is responsible for transmitting personal information to police departments around the country when requested by law enforcement officers. According to Grimaldi, the DMV has already successfully handled around 35,000 law enforcement requests (nationwide) in just the first day using the new system.

In Rhode Island, Grimaldi said that the first two weeks are operating under a reservation-only system in order to more successfully integrate the new system and get DMV employees more acquainted with the system in a controlled format. He said there was “virtually no wait” for customers in the first day of the system and that there had been 700 reservations filed for the first day, including car dealers.

“So far this morning everything is going exactly as we want it to go,” Grimaldi said on Wednesday. “We will be assessing it every day.”

Grimaldi said that the update is the first in a line of possible upgrades for the DMV. He mentioned the possibility of self-service kiosks and a rolling, mobile unit that could attend events and service customers throughout the state. He added, however, that such accommodations shouldn’t be expected any time soon.

“Give us 18 months,” he said, saying that the implementation of the new computer system is the top priority.

When asked about the historic nature of the update, Grimaldi said comically that he was hoping to be retired before they had to go through such a process again.

The following information was submitted through a press release issued by the DMV on what customers can expect during the next two weeks as the DMV operates under reservations only:

All customers seeking to conduct in-person transactions between July 5 and July 17 must first secure a reservation for service by visiting www.dmv.ri.gov and accessing the Customer Reservations Portal. Visitors will then be transferred to a third-party website – hosted by Stonewall Solutions – where they can search for available service dates, times and locations. Reservations will state the following terms and conditions:

l This reservation grants admittance only. Once your reservation is confirmed at check-in, normal ticketing procedures will apply and you will be served as promptly as possible.

l No check-ins will be allowed more than 15 minutes prior to your reservation time. Customers arriving more than 15 minutes after their reservation time may not be admitted.

l Please have a copy of your reservation confirmation or your reservation number available at check-in. You will be required to have proof of identification.

l If you are unable to keep this reservation, please be courteous and cancel it as soon as possible so that the reservation can be made available to another customer.

l The Division will employ the reservation program for service at its Cranston office from Wednesday, July 5 through Monday, July 17. The program will be in effect at its Middletown and Woonsocket offices from Thursday, July 13 through Monday, July 17. No visitors will be allowed entry to a DMV office during these periods without a reservation.

l Customers seeking in-person service during this period should check the reservation site regularly as additional reservations may become available.

Customers are reminded that AAA offices will be unable to conduct DMV transactions through Friday, July 7. DMV transaction services will be restored at AAA offices on a staggered basis beginning Saturday, July 8 at the organization’s Cranston and Warwick locations.

“I want to thank Rhode Islanders for the patience they’ve shown these last several weeks as we’ve moved methodically toward our launch,” said Walter “Bud” Craddock, DMV administrator. “Many of them heeded our messages to complete their transactions in advance of our launch. I’m asking them to again follow our instructions should they need DMV services from Wednesday, July 5 through Monday, July 17, and reserve a service time.”

Craddock also announced late last month that the DMV would be extending validity periods for Rhode Island motor vehicle credentials with July 2017 expiration dates to Sept. 30 to compensate for the delays and difficulties associated with the launch of the new computer system. This announcement coincided with news that the DMV would extend the validity period for temporary license plates from 20 to 40 days.

Look for updates about the new computer system launch at www.dmv.ri.gov or on the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles Facebook page and on Twitter @RIRevenue. To schedule a reservation for service at the DMV you can follow this direct link: https://ridmvreservations.stonewallsolutions.com/Pages/Default.aspx.