Call Kurtis: DMV Launches Website for Veterans

Bill Barnes stood in his home office gazing at a time capsule of military achievement.

"After 26 years in the Marine Corps, you have a lot of memories," said Barnes, a veteran of the Korean War.

In a quarter century of service, Corporal Bill Barnes won countless medals and awards -- including the Marine Corps's prestigious Shively Trophy for excellence in pistol marksmanship.

Barnes retired on disability after suffering a leg injury that now leaves him severely disabled, he said.

But he never thought applying for disabled veteran license plates would be so difficult.

"It is frustrating," he said.

Barnes has pulled together all the required information several times in the last few years, only to have the DMV reject his application for "DV" plates, he said.

"By golly, I deserve that," he said. "Why can't I get that?"

The DMV insisted he had to meet three disability qualifications, he said -- not only to be "severely" disabled, but also be diagnosed with a disease, and have a loss of limb or eyesight

But Barnes knew he only had to meet one of those qualifications.

"It's one, it's one of these qualifications," said Jan Mendoza of the California Department of Motor Vehicles when asked about the form.

There has been confusion about veteran benefits, according to Mendoza, so the DMV has since launched it's new DMV Veterans website, making clear who qualifies for those benefits and how to apply for disabled veteran plates.

It's part of the DMV's effort to better serve veterans, said Mendoza. Since mid-2011, a new "Military Service" box the driver's license application has helped grow the number of disabled veteran issued these license plates from about 8,000 to about 9,500, she said.

It should make the whole process a lot easier -- and faster for veterans, according to Mendoza.

"This ensures that the veterans will get good information sent to them from Veterans Affairs through the DMV," she said.

After CBS Sacramento contacted the DMV, it finally approved Bill's application for DV plates.

Three weeks later, the plates arrived in the mail.

Bill chalked it up to an increased effort by the DMV.

"I think there's been a hell of a lot of progress made," he said.