Wait times longer at DDS this week

GAINESVILLE - Wait times at driver's license offices around the region were hours long Tuesday, and were expected to be that way all week.

Jane Wilson of Buford said she waited nearly three hours for a license renewal in Gainesville Tuesday morning.

"Anybody you speak with, it's this type of wait. Someone went to Cumming and it was over two hours," Wilson said.

Wilson said she arrived at the office on Aviation Boulevard around 7:30 a.m. She said there were roughly 30 in line, and by the time the office opened at 8:00 a.m., the line was between 50 and 60.

"The little girl beside me, 16, coming to take her driver's test, she got there probably about 8:30 a.m. When I left at 10:00 a.m., she was still sitting there. Another gentleman, finally, he got up and said I can't wait any longer," Wilson said.

Wilson said the office had two to three clerks, with two service counters open. She said there was also an employee checking people in, and one collecting pens and clip boards.

"The clerk that worked on me was very pleasant (and) patient, but to me I think it's very unacceptable," Wilson said.

Wilson said she tried to renew last Wednesday afternoon in Cumming, but had to leave because she was told the wait was three and a half hours.

Susan Sports is Public Information Officer with the Georgia Department of Driver Services. She said the wait times Tuesday are not because of just one thing.

"There's several reasons for that, and combined, they're adding up to additional wait times."

Tuesday was the first day for the new secure ID requirements in Georgia. It requires an in-person visit to an office with documents in tow if your license is expiring.

"We're having to educate our customers as well as the driver examiners learning a new process," Sports said.

Other factors include the fact that Tuesdays are always busy, because the offices are closed on Mondays, according to Sports. In addition, the offices are closed Wednesday for the Fourth of July, meaning there's only three days this week to take care of DDS business.

As far as staffing, Sports said they're always recruiting driver examiners.

"Unfortunately we do have a good bit of turnover with those positions, but we are always adding examiners as soon as someone moves on," Sports said.

She said her department got 22 additional positions with the secure I.D. program, and those have been filled.

She said if you're approaching a DDS visit, you should visit the department's website to make sure you have the correct documents. If you get there and don't have the right papers, Sports said they'll issue you a temporary 120-day permit, but you'll have to return with the right documents.