DMV relaunches mobile unit, helps victims of devastating Pines of Perinton fire

FAIRPORT, N.Y. (WHEC) — In Monroe County, the department of motor vehicles is back out on the road.

The DMV relaunched its mobile unit, which had been on a coronavirus hiatus. The team started out by going to Fairport Village Town Hall to help victims of the devastating Pines of Perinton fire on Saturday.

"With all the smoke and flames, it reminded me of hell. My wife’s ashes, my dog’s ashes, my brother’s ashes, I lost everything I had,” Mark Diviase told News10NBC’s Stephanie Duprey, he is a victim of the Pines fire.

Read more: 65 displaced residents of Pines of Perinton apartments in temporary housing

Diviase says he’s still putting the pieces together after the January fire that left over 60 people displaced. Diviase was one of a few, participating in the DMV’s mobile team soft launch.

"I lost titles, registration, and listen, this is a big blessing for us folks,” Diviase said emotionally.

Right now the mobile DMV can only process certain documents like replacing forms of I.D.—or a car title. Monroe County officials say COVID put a red light on Mobile DMV updates for the last few years, but there was a surprise bonus.

"One of the things that COVID allowed us to do was to really go through and audit our equipment, test it out and we learned a lot of things that had to do with connectivity issues with the state DMV’s network,” Monroe County Clerk, Jamie Romeo said.

One woman says this system is perfect for folks who don’t drive or can’t get to a DMV location.

"I had to get my ID renewed, I don’t drive. You would have to go to Henrietta and that’s a ride away and I don’t have a car, so this great,” Donna Moffett told us.

Diviase says, the chance to be a part of the event, seems simple, but it’s so much more than that.

"This is so important, I was wondering how I was going to get my title, my registration back, it was so helpful, it’s beautiful, this is a beautiful thing.”

County officials say the event was a success in getting people what they needed. Eventually, they’ll be able to create more Mobile DMVs countywide.