Hartford —Motor Vehicles Commissioner Andres Ayala Jr. said Wednesday that wait times at branch offices are improving, but he can't predict when long lines brought on by a new computer system will ease.

"At this point, I can't give you a prediction as to when things will stabilize," Ayala said. "We're monitoring it and seeing that our front line staff are getting better and better, hence transaction times continue to improve. In no way are we out of the woods yet."

The DMV shut down for a week Aug. 11 to install a new computer system that will allow residents to conduct more business online.

But when the department reopened Aug. 15, customers encountered long lines at all 19 DMV locations, including wait times as long as five to seven hours.

Ayala said the department anticipated an adjustment period, which is why officials granted 60-day extensions to expiring license, registration and ID-card renewals.

The lengthy lines are partly due to pent-up demand created by the shutdown, and partly due to staff learning a new computer system, he said.

Many tasks that previously required a trip to a DMV office, such as registration renewals, can now be completed online. But other DMV-related functions, including registering a new car, must still be done in person at a DMV office.

One of the factors hampering the online system is the fact that a private company that is not affiliated with the DMV has registered the domain name, dmv.org/ct-connecticut, and people are turning to that website to fill out forms. The state DMV website is ct.gov/dmv/site/default.asp.