Update: Virginia-Wide Computer Outage Continues at DMV

A statewide computer glitch with the Department of Motor Vehicles' driver's license and identification card system continues Thursday, the seventh day that  74 locations will be affected by the outage. Customers must turn to online or automated telephone systems to renew licenses, and officials are expecting a deluge of work when the system resumes operations.

Once the customer service center's computers are up and running again, DMV expects high customer turnouts and promises that license issuance "will be a top service priority." To avoid the swell of customers, three alternative options are available through www.dmvNOW.com, automated telephone 1-888-337-4782, or renewal through mail.

DMV officials said Thursday they still did not have a timetable for the system's return.

Renewal notices distributed through the mail should contain a PIN number and  instructions on how to renew licenses through these alternative means.

When the system goes back online, DMV officials are preparing for an influx of more than 30,000 Virginia residents who have been waiting to renew or get new licenses in person. Service centers will be fully staffed, additional part-time employees are on standby, crowd control measures will be implemented and extended office hours are being considered, officials said.

Virginia State Police won't take any enforcement action for driver's licenses that expire from Aug. 25 through Sept. 30, officials said.

DMV reports that Virginia Information Technologies Agency and Northrop Grumman and still working to restore the service.

Also affected by the outages: The voter registration database at the Virginia State Board of Elections. State residents can still apply to register to vote, but those applications will not be processed until the agency's database is restored.