Screw the Ministry of Transport

[Maestro]

Need to vent a little frustration - I currently HATE the ministry of transportation for ontario... I have to move from my G2 (limited license - had it for almost 5 years now) to my G (full license) by the 21 of May. As always, I left it to the last minute, so I had a hard time finding an appointment which fit my schedule. I ended up booking one for today in Barrie, which is about an hours drive from my hometown. Both the website and the phone system for the MTO are absolutely horrendous, but I won't bother getting into that as it will just frustrate me even more.

So anyways, I drive the hour to Barrie, get there half an hour early as the website suggested. Go into the office, and the lady filling out the paperwork for me was a complete bitch. I was trying to be friendly, but she wouldn't look at me while she was talking, just kept staring at her computer screen and the papers in front of her. Whatever - she has to deal with people all day - I'd probably be more of a dick if I was in that situation myself. So all the paperwork gets filled out, I'm told to wait in my car - it'll be 10 minutes. A half hour later my examiner finally comes out to my car. We go through all the necessary BS before starting, and then we're off.

We get to the first main intersection, and I'm not going to lie, I was kind of nervous. It's a red for me, and I'm told to make a right turn - so I stop before line, check oncoming traffic, it's clear so I go. Apparently I did a "rolling stop," and was told I needed to watch out for that. I said OK, and kept going. We go through the remainder of the test (~25 minutes) and get back to the office, where he tells me I failed the test at the first intersection b/c of the rolling stop. At this point, I have to ask myself why the F he wouldn't have just stopped me then and saved me the gas and hassle of completing the rest of the test? Also, he told me I need to check my blindspots more - which is BS because whenever I'd check them he'd be looking away so he woudln't notice it. Plus, I stay aware of my surroundings by using my mirrors, so I don't feel the need to check my blindspots every two seconds, not to mention when I'm in the right lane of the highway and I'm told to exit (no one can POSSIBLY be next to me since I'm switching to a new lane thats JUST opened up). What's worse is he told me I did fine the rest of the time and that the first rolling stop mistake was likely because I was nervous - So WTF don't you not be a dick and let me pass...

So I basically spent 4 hours and $75 being told by some douchebag that I don't know how to drive, despite the fact that I've been on the road for 6 years now without a ticket or accident on my record. And an added bonus is the fact that I now have to go through the whole process AGAIN in less than three weeks ($150 thrown out the window, more hours of my time wasted, and the stress of having to drive "safely" according to some door knob knowitall government worker)...

Sorry for the long/incoherent rant, but I'm in a pissy mood and don't feel like proofreading right now... haha...

[Chales]

At least it has a badass name.

Ministy > Department

[ontrider]

Maestro, ouch! I feel for ya! I kinda left mine until the last minute too and the guy barely passed me after lecturing me about blind spots... I think he was a driving Nazi though, cause on my G2 road test I got like 96% or something

Word to the wise... Don't leave any government service in Ontario until the last minute or you'll be screwed. Oh, I just remembered another thing! haha.. the dude told me I let pedestrians cross when I had the right of way. It was more like they just started crossing in front of me, so what choice did I have? moron!

Anyway... I was up in Barrie yesterday too and the girls at the McDonalds counter were quite nice to me

[spyd4r]

Ya, Ontario government workers are pricks... actually most if not all government workers are usually pretty bitter.

[Dpierce37]

not a day goes bye that I don't do a rolling stop...

That suck man...good luck on your next test!