Published Saturday, August 02, 2008

Wait times diminish for renewing your driver's license

Editorial

Some of our senior citizen readers say it's discrimination because seniors cannot renew their driver's license online like other drivers in Georgia. They say it's more inconvenient for seniors to go to examining stations than it is for many other people. They also say they miss out on the reduced price that is offered for online renewal.

These senior citizens make valid points. We asked the Public Information Office of the Department of Driver Services to comment on the seniors' claims.

The spokeswoman noted Georgia state lawmakers were the ones mandating that citizens age 64 or older must take a vision test administered by the DDS prior to renewing or issuing a driver's license. Because the vision test can only be taken in person, that eliminates the online renewal option.

In other words, it's not Driver Services who sets the rule to have seniors examined in person. You have to give our state House and Senate members credit for mandating the test in person.

The Driver Services spokesman offered some helpful advice for seniors and anyone else who is renewing their license in person:

"We have found the middle of the week, the middle of the day seems to be the best time to experience shorter waits. ... During June the statewide average wait time for customers to begin service was nine minutes and eight seconds."

It's unfortunate senior citizens are being denied an attractive option of renewing their license online. However, we understand the logic of our lawmakers in trying to keep our highways safe.

The good news for seniors is lines at examining stations are much, much shorter than in the past when everyone had to renew in person. The trip may be inconvenient, but it should not take as long as it did years ago.