While we would welcome any reasonable changes that would improve service at the state Department of Motor Vehicle offices and, even better, changes that would allow drivers to avoid the DMV altogether, one proposal generated by the Malloy administration may go too far.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is certainly right that things have to improve at the DMV. Its rollout of a new computer system was a disaster. The changes introduced last summer were intended to be an improvement; instead people were greeted with longer lines and wait times that stretched on for hours. Worse yet, the situation dragged on for months.

Using the new system, the DMV erroneously suspended registrations because the software failed to record new or changed insurance policies. Municipal tax assessors were in some instances not getting the information they needed to update motor vehicle tax rolls.

In other words, it was about as bad it could get, leading to the resignation of the DMV commissioner.

The new system, however, does allow the public to conduct more DMV business remotely by computer. Unfortunately, the state did not do an adequate job of getting that word out. And with his new proposed legislation, “An Act Decreasing Wait Times at the DMV,” Gov. Dannel P. Malloy does deserve credit for responding to the concerns of an unhappy driving public.

The new law would allow the state to enter into contracts with private contractors, such as AAA, to provide vehicle registration services. Currently, AAA can only provide non-commercial driver’s license services. Under the proposed change, the state could also seek out other businesses interested in attracting the public by offering the licensing and registration services. Helping the public avoid the DMV for these usually routine actions makes sense.

The legislation will also postpone the issuance of vessel titles — intended to become a requirement this year — until Dec. 31, 2018. While the state should extend title requirements to boats, it is probably not a good idea to increase the workload on the troubled agency at this time. The two-year delay buys sufficient time for the DMV to become better organized.

It is the third proposal that gives us some pause. The change would eliminate the ban on registering vehicles that have delinquent property taxes and/or parking tickets. Currently, regulations prohibit the DMV from renewing a vehicle registration for an applicant and from registering any other motor vehicle, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle, if the department has received notification from any city, town, borough, or taxing district of outstanding tax payments or delinquent parking tickets.

This is a frequent cause for frustration at DMV offices. Many a car owner has stood in a line to get their number, waited sometimes for hours to have that number called, only to get to the counter and realize they cannot renew or open a registration because of unpaid property taxes or an old parking ticket.

Mark Bergman, the governor’s communications director, said this rule is responsible for about 60 percent of all compliance problems.

While the change would certainly make visits to the DMV friendlier for many and reduce wait times, it would also remove an incentive that forces many to meet their responsibility to pay taxes and fines to municipalities.

Perhaps a compromise proposal would set a threshold that would trigger denial of a registration. If taxes are in arrears for more than two years or fines exceed $250, for example. This would eliminate delays due to petty negligence, but force flagrant scofflaws to pay up.

While the details are worth discussing as the legislative process moves forward, the overall goal of improving wait times at the DMV is the right one.