So here's my afternoon

[Sandman]

Mid-day, I head to Covington, because it's the time of year to renew auto tags, and also this happens to be the year my driver's license expires. Two birds with one stone, and at a time of day I knew from my vantage point there wouldn't be a lot of traffic or lines.

 

Old courthouse, tags were quick and easy. Looked around for the driver's license renewal area and it's in the new courthouse. No biggie. In the meantime, I'm getting major phone calls and texts on personnel issues at work. I expected these could come up, as they were being discussed all week.

 

I figure I'll give a call to my boss, and sort things out. Step into a building lobby to do so and begin convo...I'm told by a guard it's a "secure" building and I need to leave. I'm a bit taken aback, but okay...I ask if I can next door to what looks like a restaurant. Guard is of no help. I walk in and the place is closing (likely a breakfast, lunch type place and it's getting closer to 3 by now.) No issues. I have a 20 minute convo, and everything is sorted out. Feel I owe someone something for allowing me to sit there, so I tip the manager, waitress, etc. $5 for allowing me a space to talk.

 

Then, walk across the street to the new courthouse to renew license. 6 dudes in deputies uniforms, 4 of whom just sit against the wall and do zero except try to look important but mostly look out of shape. Get license renewed, head back out the same way I came in, and see same 4 guys, again just hanging out.

 

My takes:

 

1. While I got lucky and my tags were quick and easy, based on the line. In listening to folks nearby, seems this is a very difficult task for some people to accomplish. Lots of stories, lots of family members with them, etc. I feel for the clerks who deal with that each day. To their credit, they seemed on top of it and handled it well. I like to actually to visit the courthouse each year for this endeavor, although I may need to step away from that and explore online and mail options beginning next year.

 

2. The first building I went to for my phone convo turned out to be the new IRS building. I saw a nice lobby to get off the street noise and went inside. I figured my appearance and demeanor would allow me to be okay there for a few (20) minutes. The guard there was less than polite or helpful, but I easily moved along. I really wanted to circle back to this guard and remind her, that the nice, new, IRS building she works in is a product of my tax dollars, as is her salary.

 

3. After dealing with the above, and going through the protocol to enter the new courthouse, I was a little surprised to see 4 deputies holding up a wall and doing absolutely nothing. I knew where the driver's license renewal area was, but decided to walk around like a moron for a minute and then go ask them, politely, if they could help me find my way. As a group, they seemed perturbed that I'd bother them.

 

Final take: Don't read me as angry or anti-this or that. Zero chance. Also zero chance I'm big on folks making money on my dime while not offering to be at least a little helpful or considerate. It's a bad look. And, it makes others who wear similar uniforms and do all the right things have to work harder and take more abuse than they deserve.

 

My two cents.

[Watusi]

I can understand the first issue. All federal buildings (and most IRS offices in non-federal buildings) have heightened security now for good reason. You can't enter past the lobby without a security check and metal detector scan. They confiscate cell phones and electronic devices. You can't loiter in their lobby.

 

Being a a huge target can prompt you to take those measures.

 

On the lazy deputies, I agree with you. Burns my hide a bit too. I shake my head when I see it but I move on.

[Sandman]

I can understand the first issue. All federal buildings (and most IRS offices in non-federal buildings) have heightened security now for good reason. You can't enter past the lobby without a security check and metal detector scan. They confiscate cell phones and electronic devices. You can't loiter in their lobby.

 

Being a a huge target can prompt you to take those measures.

On the lazy deputies, I agree with you. Burns my hide a bit too. I shake my head when I see it but I move on.

 

On the bolded, I get it. I honestly only stepped into the lobby because it seemed like a nice safe place to talk to my boss. I had zero idea it was an IRS, or any Federal building at all. My issue was with the way the security officer at the desk "showed me the door,". If she had told me I was in a Federal building and I could not "loiter" there, I'd get it. Had she shown just a bit of courtesy, it would have helped. Maybe I feel too entitled. I guess these folks have jobs to do and rules they must follow. My advice would only be, you are never bigger than your job, and can always be ready to provide any helpful service you can. In this case, a 15 second conversation with me would have gone a long way.

[Watusi]

 

On the bolded, I get it. I honestly only stepped into the lobby because it seemed like a nice safe place to talk to my boss. I had zero idea it was an IRS, or any Federal building at all. My issue was with the way the security officer at the desk "showed me the door,". If she had told me I was in a Federal building and I could not "loiter" there, I'd get it. Had she shown just a bit of courtesy, it would have helped. Maybe I feel too entitled. I guess these folks have jobs to do and rules they must follow. My advice would only be, you are never bigger than your job, and can always be ready to provide any helpful service you can. In this case, a 15 second conversation with me would have gone a long way.

I'm with you but those officers are never cordial. I guess they are trained like that, keep on point, be tough, etc.

[GaViking]

Independence KY courthouse - in and out for both tags and drivers license. Son went to Covington for a license renewal and told his sister after seeing the security check point - "We do not belong here". I also had to wait for an estate attorney in the Covington courthouse lobby, and a deputy asked my spouse and I why were waiting in the lobby.

[Jim Schue]

This thread totally reminds me about how the concept of "Southern Hospitality" starts quickly disappearing from the public scene once you cross the Boone/Kenton/Campbell southern county lines.

[GaViking]

I can understand "Southern Hospitality". You must have security. The difference between Covington and Independence - no metal detectors and no guards at the doors.