Oh isn’t this going to be exciting, we can all watch commercials while waiting in line to pay the highest DMV fees in the country. They will stop at nothing to raise more and more money, problem is we never seem to benefit from increased income to the government. They do.

People waiting in line at several Erie County DMV locations will soon have more to look at than the back of someone else’s head.

The county legislature has approved plans to put advertisements and public service information on TV screens being installed at the Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Eastern Hills Mall and Erie Community College South DMV branches.

“This is a creative opportunity to enhance the experience for our Auto Bureau customers and generate new revenue for the county,” said Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul.

Hochul is betting that a better ticketing system and more comfortable seating will make the DMV experience a more pleasant one. And with local companies paying to put their products and services in front of such a captive audience, she’s hoping the arrangement will be profitable as well.

After the agreement is finalized with the county attorney’s office, Metrodata Services will install new monitors at the four chosen sites at no cost to the county. Then they’ll solicit prospective advertisers and see who’s interested.

“We are going to be looking for advertising more tourism related, automotive related, those sorts of things. Something that will be appealing to the audience,” Hochul said.

The county clerk will have final say over what ads are allowed to ensure they’re appropriate for the office, and preliminary figures estimate the county’s share of the advertising revenue at $100,000 for the first three years. With all of the customer traffic generated by enhanced driver’s licenses, boating licenses and motorcycle licenses, Hochul said she’s hopeful the program’s success will surpass expectations.

“We’re expecting the initial years to be slower, but hopefully it will take off,” she said.

ERIE COUNTY: TV ads coming to DMV lines