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The Motor Vehicle Division office in San Manuel will be closing. The phasing out of operations
will begin soon with the days the office is open reduced to two days a week. The
announcement was made on Tuesday October 11 at a public forum held in SaddleBrooke.
Director Eric Jorgenson gave a slide show presentation with MVD facts about the San Manuel
office. He explained that the closure was a cost saving and efficiency decision. Plans were to
provide a kiosk with computer access for Tri-Community residents, probably in Mammoth. It
was said that 66% of transactions done in San Manuel could be done online.
The presentation was followed by a call to the public for comment and questions. Many
residents from SaddleBrooke and the Tri-Community responded. None of the responders were
happy with the decision to close the San Manuel office. Many were unhappy that the decision
to close the office was made without public input and transparency. Two thirds of the MVD
transactions in San Manuel are from SaddleBrooke residents.
Some of the issues brought up were that many people in the Tri-Community do not know how
to use a computer, do not have a computer or cannot afford a computer or internet access. It is
a harder drive with traffic especially for seniors and takes more time than driving to San Manuel
for SaddleBrooke residents. Service time in Tucson takes more time than the San Manuel office
and some people have had problems with being told they had to do emission tests on their
vehicles because SaddleBrooke addresses show Tucson although they are in Pinal County. There
is a problem of transportation for many in the area who would have to drive to the nearest
MVD office which is located at Shannon north of Ina in Tucson. The office is approximately 40
miles from San Manuel.
Pinal County District 1 Supervisor Pete Rios was in attendance and told the MVD
representatives and audience that the “closing of the San Manuel office is a hardship for people
in rural areas”. “Many people do not have computers or cell phones”. He pointed out the
trouble people have had accessing services since the DES office closed in Mammoth. He said
the decision had already been made by ADOT and the only way to have the decision changed is
to go over their head. He gave out the phone number for the Governor’s office and urged
people to call and voice their opposition. The phone number is (602)542-4331.
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