Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration needs to determine what went so wrong with the implementation of a new computer system for the Department of Motor Vehicles, explain it to the public, and then take steps to make sure the same problems do not reoccur when other agencies adopt new operating systems.

Some hiccups can be expected when an agency that has to handle as much documentation as the DMV changes its software, yet the intent of investing in new technology is to make things go smoother.

Instead, after closing for a week for the transition and reopening in August, the DMV has subjected patrons to incredibly long wait lines, stretching in some cases for several hours. While some progress has been made, waits remain on average about triple what they were a year earlier, using the old software.

But that’s not where the frustration ends.

A couple of weeks ago it came to light that DMV was erroneously suspending registrations because the software failed to record new or changed insurance policies. Drivers have found themselves accused of driving with a suspended registration when they did nothing wrong. Police have had to deal with the mess, as frustrated drivers try to explain there was a mistake made.

More recently, municipal tax assessors revealed they were not getting all the motor vehicle records they needed to place cars and trucks on town tax rolls. Blame was again placed on the software, which sent information to the wrong addresses.

The necessary functions of the software system should have been clear in preparing for the introduction of the new network and most bugs identified and corrected in testing in advance of a formal launch. If problems were apparent, if more training of personnel was necessary, then the launch should have been delayed as necessary.

Can you imagine this happening in the private sector? A hospital unable to treat patients in a timely fashion for months after converting to new software? A supermarket forcing customers to stand in long lines because cashiers can’t get the hang of the new technology?

It is tempting to call for the ouster of DMV Commissioner Andres Ayala Jr., but the fact is the preparation for the new computer system was far along when he took the job last year. It has been left for him to clean up the mess. If he can’t get it done soon, it may be time for a change.