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Virginia’s DMV just stopped being a national punch line. A Virginia Mercury story reported that average in‑office wait times fell dramatically — and the agency says it’s because of a program called “Perfect 10.” That’s the news. The rest is politics and keyboard claptrap.
The real story: DMV’s “Perfect 10” cut waits and saved money
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles says average wait times dropped from about 37 minutes in 2019 to roughly 8.3 minutes in 2026. The agency even logged a record low 5.9‑minute average in October 2025. That didn’t happen by accident. The DMV points to its 2023 “Perfect 10” initiative — redesigning lobbies, separating appointment and walk‑in lines, expanding appointment slots, and giving employees tools to keep traffic moving. The payoff: a transformation award, about $15 million in savings, and lower staff turnover. That’s government reform that actually works.
Media silence and social‑media noise
Now for the theater. Some on social media loudly claim the press “erased” credit for specific politicians and even say Governor Abigail Spanberger fired the commissioner who delivered these results. The Mercury piece itself doesn’t name a governor. And public records show Gerald F. Lackey still listed as DMV commissioner. So the dramatic claims about firings and deliberate erasures fall flat when you check the facts. That doesn’t stop people from shouting their preferred narrative, but facts matter more than hot takes.
Don’t let spin replace results
Here’s the conservative point: good government is worth praising — especially when it actually improves people’s lives. Conservatives believe in fixing broken systems, not expanding them. Whether the credit goes to career public servants, an administration, or both, the smarter takeaway is to copy what works. If other states want shorter lines, lower costs, and happier customers, they should study the DMV’s playbook instead of arguing over who gets the headline.
Lessons for voters and reporters
Voters should reward officials who deliver real improvements, not votes who deliver only slogans. Reporters should do their job and explain when an agency’s reforms are agency‑led versus politically driven. And everyone on social media should stop pretending rumor and outrage are reporting. Virginia’s DMV fixed a long‑standing problem. That’s the win. Give credit where credit is due — and if the press won’t, voters should.
