Reuters writes that New York will change its driving test so that people who renew their licenses don't have to take an eye test to do so.

And they quote a familiar name: state Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, who is against it.

Calling her a "a frequent critic of the DMV," the story quotes Mrs. Ritchie saying* the eye test is "a mild inconvenience for motorists that makes our roads safer. Eliminating it just doesn't make sense."

Mrs. Ritchie is the former clerk in St. Lawrence County, so calling her a "frequent critic of the [Department of Motor Vehicles]" paints only half the picture.

I just talked to one of the editors here, who pointed out something interesting: County offices basically administer state DMV law. But the state has been trying to get more and more of the share of customers with online registrations and new funding formulas.

So getting rid of the eye test just gets rid of one more reason to go to your county DMV office to renew your license (you could mail in your renewal to the state, with an eye doctor's note. But that's a pain. Wouldn't you rather pay a couple bucks to do it at the friendly DMV?).

Just more marginalization of Mrs. Ritchie's former position.

*UPDATE: I realized just now that I also had Mrs. Ritchie's statement in my inbox, via a news release. Got lost in the shuffle, as it were. Still notable, however.

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