Secretary of State to End Walk-In Drivers Services
Motorists stand in line at the Secretary of State Driver’s Services Facility on the northwest side of Chicago.
NOTE: This story was originally posted for subscribers only. To receive subscriber-only newsletters and content, click here.
The Secretary of State’s office is transitioning all driver’s services, like license renewals and driving tests to an appointment-only system beginning September 1st, The Illinoize has learned.
Staff for Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias have been briefing legislators on the plan, which would limit walk-in services at the nearly 120 Driver’s Services Facilities around the state. Numerous facilities already take appointments, but the appointments would become mandatory.
Appointments can already be scheduled online, but it isn’t clear at this point if telephone appointments will be offered for senior citizens or non-English speakers.
Motor vehicle services, like titles and registrations, will not be required to make appointments, we’re told.
A spokesman for Giannoulias told us Monday he would “look into” the plans and did not respond further.
We’re also told all but a handful of DMV facilities will also end Saturday hours and move to Monday through Friday schedules.
Some lawmakers are questioning the decision, specifically to close on Saturdays.
“It just seems like people in government forget they are in the service industry,” said one Republican legislator.
