Patsy Ceccacci, left, checks her phone while waiting with others in line outside the Texas Department of Public Safety Drivers License Office in Galveston on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019.
Patsy Ceccacci, left, checks her phone while waiting with others in line outside the Texas Department of Public Safety Drivers License Office in Galveston on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019.
Texans who find themselves in the unfortunate position of having to visit a Texas Department of Public Safety office to obtain or renew driver’s licenses and state identification cards might get some relief next year.
How much relief depends on how well the DPS spends $200 million in new funding the Texas Legislature in May approved to cut the time people must wait in line to accomplish what should be a simple task with profound consequences on such fundamental rights as getting back and forth to work and voting, among others.
The long lines are a result of having to prove citizenship, a new requirement that causes all new licenses to be done in person. How to get through quickly:
1. Use a rural DPS office. Get away from large population centers. You can renew anywhere in the state.
2. Avoid the first of the month and the last of the month. The procrastinators will be crowding the venue.
3. Have your documentation with you which avoids a second trip. Find out what is required from the DPS website.
Judging from the driving skill that I have seen deteriorate over the past 30 years as a commercial driver, I wonder if there is any driver education at all any more.
I agree with Robert. Making my 80 year old born on the island father prove his citizenship after driving in Texas for 67 years is certainly ridiculous.
By making DPS the de facto immigration department of Texas.....you have killed their primary focus.
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The long lines are a result of having to prove citizenship, a new requirement that causes all new licenses to be done in person. How to get through quickly:
1. Use a rural DPS office. Get away from large population centers. You can renew anywhere in the state.
2. Avoid the first of the month and the last of the month. The procrastinators will be crowding the venue.
3. Have your documentation with you which avoids a second trip. Find out what is required from the DPS website.
Judging from the driving skill that I have seen deteriorate over the past 30 years as a commercial driver, I wonder if there is any driver education at all any more.
I agree with Robert. Making my 80 year old born on the island father prove his citizenship after driving in Texas for 67 years is certainly ridiculous.
By making DPS the de facto immigration department of Texas.....you have killed their primary focus.
"born on the island father" - DPS just takes his word for it. "I'm an 80 year old born on the island father." That's good enough.[rolleyes]
Carlos Ponce your a idiot
An elementary student would have a better grasp of word usage and grammar than George Caros.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.