Connecticut Driver's Licenses Wrongfully Suspended In DMV System Backlog

WETHERSFIELD, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Connecticut's Department of Motor Vehicles will temporarily stop forwarding to police lists of motorists whose vehicle registrations have been suspended due to a lack of insurance.

DMV Commissioner Andres Ayala Jr. said Thursday that the holdup will give his agency time to sift through a backlog that's developed and determine which motorists have insurance and which don't.

"The state of Connecticut does not want citizens fearing to drive their cars because they have been told erroneously by DMV they have no insurance and that their registrations have been suspended,"  Ayala said in a statement.

Ayala apologized to drivers whose registrations have been wrongly suspended. The problem stems from the recent upgrade of DMV's computer system and it affected people who recently changed their insurance company.

It's unclear how many registrations were wrongly suspended.

Connecticut overhauled its previous system in February 2015, with hopes that the new computerized system would cut back on wait times for customers.

But by November 2015, it seemed that the system switch was counterproductive, with wait times increasing from the reported average of 30 minutes, to several hours, according to reporting from WCBS 880.

State Rep. Gail Lavielle, R-Wilton, who is currently monitoring the situation and said DMV customers are livid, and said in late December that the new computer service has "failed miserably."

Ayala promised that any fines incurred between Aug. 18 and Jan. 9 due to DMV's error will be reimbursed.

The DMV said they will also issue letters for customers to use in court proceedings or payment of fines if their license was wrongfully suspended.

For more information, click here.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)