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Secretary White closing all offices, including driver services facilities

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Illinois

* One of the errands I ran today was getting a new license plate sticker. Whew…

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is announcing that all offices, including Driver Services facilities statewide, will be closed to the public due to the COVID-19 virus and the health and safety recommendations by experts endorsing social distancing efforts. The closures will take effect March 17 through March 31.

Expiration dates for driver’s licenses, identification (ID) cards, vehicle registrations and other transactions and document filings will be extended by 30 days through an emergency rule.

White also joins a growing list of states and industries calling on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to push back the Oct. 1, 2020, federal REAL ID deadline due to the impact COVID-19 is having on the general public and driver’s license and ID card-issuing agencies nationwide.

“After careful consideration, it is clear that this decision to close offices and Driver Services facilities is the right one to make for the health and safety of Illinoisans,” said White. “This important action will help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.”

White is reminding residents that many transactions with the Secretary of State’s office may be conducted online at www.cyberdriveillinois.com. Customers are encouraged to take advantage of these online services, some of which include:

• obtaining a duplicate driver’s license or ID card;
• renewing a vehicle registration;
• obtaining a driver record abstract;
• renewing a standard driver’s license with the Safe Driver Renewal program;
• filing Business Services documents, such as incorporations and annual reports;
• customers with issues involving administrative hearings may contact 312-793-3722 or 217-782-7065.

White stressed that the office will continue to monitor the COVID-19 crisis. Expert advice, news and events involving the virus will influence the reopening date of offices and the Driver Services facilities.

“We will do everything we can to help protect the health and safety of our residents,” said White. “This will, and must, be the guiding principle of our decision making.”

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 4:35 pm

Comments

They should waive the online fee for registration renewal if using checks then.

Comment by ktkat1 Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 4:52 pm
Will SOS employees still be paid? (Treasurer’s and the Governor’s office announced that pay would continue as normal). No mention of that in any of the memo or news reports.

Comment by Leatherneck Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 5:57 pm
Leatherneck,
Yes. Secretary of State employees will be paid.
Henry Haupt
Press Secretary - Downstate
Office of Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White

Comment by Henry Haupt Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 6:05 pm
ktkat1 -
Generally “convenience fees” are caused by state law. So, unless the Governor’s Executive Order waives it and SoS IT staff can alter the website and programming, not going to happen.

Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 6:15 pm
The processing/convenience fee is charged by the financial institution, the fee is not kept by the State, it goes directly to the card issuer. State cannot waive the fee.

Comment by danray Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 7:24 pm
The Illinois State Police should ask the governor to waive FOID requirements. State Police cannot process any applications on time as it is. I did an online address change the middle of November. still nothing. If I want to go buy a gun I have to lie on my application as the address needs to match the FOID.

Comment by St. Patty's Ghost Monday, Mar 16, 20 @ 8:09 pm
Man oh man, I’m glad I went and did my real ID two weeks ago (my license expired Friday). It was my second attempt — first try the Cook County lines were too long. Took about 3 hours, everyone was super-pleasant and professional, I have nothing bad to say about the DMV; they just need more staff, and I admire them for keeping their cool during that very long day and still being pleasant and professional at 4 in the afternoon. But I’m soooooooo glad I already got it done and don’t have to go back during the post-Covid crush that will inevitably descend.

And yes, convenience fees are a state statute issue — they must charge all citizens the same amount, by law, but credit cards put a percentage charge on top of that. So, unique among merchants, because it’s flatly illegal for retail stores to do this, governmental units charge the statutory fee PLUS the credit card processing fee. Private retail merchants must eat the credit card processing fee, by law. (I’m sort-of of the opinion that they ought to have to provide government services without a processing fee, but that’s another debate for a less-pandemicy day.)

Comment by Suburban Mom Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 12:16 am
What took so long?

Comment by Sonny Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:24 am

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