Former state Rep. Paul Tine begins his new role Tuesday as commissioner of the Division of Motor Vehicles.
Tine, who owns Midgett Insurance Agency in Kitty Hawk, served two terms in the North Carolina House, representing Dare, Hyde and Washington counties and half of Beaufort County. First elected as a Democrat, Tine switched to unaffiliated in 2015 and caucused with Republicans in the legislature.
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Gov. Josh Stein’s office announced the appointment Wednesday.
As a representative from 2013 through 2016, Tine served as co-chair of transportation appropriations and served on the joint transportation oversight committee. He also was on Elizabeth City State University’s board of trustees.
“I am very excited to begin work as the next Commissioner of North Carolina’s Division of Motor Vehicles,” Tine said in a release. “There is no shortage of challenges facing our division, and it is critical that we get to work quickly to reduce wait times, make our website more user friendly, and empower our frontline staff to ensure the highest level of service to our citizens.”
“As a long-time business owner and a former member of the General Assembly, Paul knows how to get things done and move at the speed of business,” Stein said in a statement. “He is the right person for this job, and I have charged him with urgently identifying ways to make the DMV work better for North Carolinians.”
The governor’s proposed budget includes funding for 61 new driver license examiners to ensure every workstation is filled and 24 new positions to staff new and expanded driver license offices.
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“Tine will work to improve North Carolinians’ experience with the DMV by addressing wait times, staffing challenges, and customer satisfaction,” according to Stein’s office.
