* Press release…
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that expiration dates for driver’s licenses and ID cards have been extended an additional five months — from Aug. 1, 2021, to Jan. 1, 2022. The new Jan. 1, 2022 extension also includes expiration dates that will occur between July and December of this year. As a result, expired driver’s licenses and ID cards will remain valid until Jan. 1, 2022 so customers do not need to rush into Driver Services facilities, especially during hot weather. This extension does not apply to commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) and CDL learner’s permits.
“Extending expiration dates until January 1, 2022, means people with an expired driver’s license or ID card do not need to rush into a Driver Services facility immediately,” said White. “During hot weather, I would suggest residents consider delaying visits to Driver Services facilities. But if you must visit a facility, please come prepared to wait outside due to continued social distancing efforts, which limits the number of people inside a facility at one time. We are allowing more people in the facilities at one time due to relaxed protocols.”
White noted that Senate Bill 2232, which Governor Pritzker signed into law Friday and had passed the House and Senate by overwhelming margins, authorizes the Secretary of State’s office to extend driver’s license and ID card expiration dates to Jan. 1, 2022. Senate Bill 2232 was sponsored by state Sen. Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) and state Rep. Michelle Mussman (D-Schaumburg).
White continues to urge the public to consider using online services when possible instead of visiting a facility due to heavy customer volume. White has greatly expanded online services and encourages the public to visit his office’s website at www.cyberdriveillinois.com. Many transactions can be conducted online, including the purchase of license plate stickers, obtaining a duplicate driver’s license or ID card, and renewing driver’s licenses and ID cards, including Real IDs, for those who are eligible.
As a reminder, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has extended the federal REAL ID deadline to May 3, 2023.
White’s office continues to review ways to further expand online renewals for expired driver’s licenses and ID cards to reduce the volume.
* Meanwhile…
Secretary of State candidate Pat Dowell announced her plan to set a supplier diversity goal for the Secretary of State’s office that is double the current goal for State of Illinois agencies.
“Increasing contracting opportunities for women, veterans, and Black and Brown entrepreneurs can be done,” Ald. Dowell said. “I know, because I’ve done it in my ward and throughout the City of Chicago.”
Currently, under the State’s Business Enterprise Program, all state agencies have a goal to do 20% of their business with businesses owned and operated by women, minorities, and persons with disabilities. In January 2022, the BEP goal for state agencies is set to increase to 30%. If elected, Dowell would increase the goal for the Secretary of State’s office to 40%.
“I’d like the Secretary of State’s office to lead on this for the State of Illinois,” Dowell said. “While the Secretary of State is an independent office and not a state agency, Secretary White has worked hard to increase supplier diversity. I want to continue that work and push it even further.”
- OneMan - Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 12:31 pm:
I get why they are doing this, but I wonder what happens when people start trying to use driver’s licenses that have been expired for a year at airports.
- Excitable Boy - Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 12:33 pm:
I tried 2 different suburban offices and lines were 4-5 hours at each. I ended up going through a small town in western IL that has one, still waited 1.5 hours.
I’m a big fan of Secretary White, but I do hope his replacement ramps up their technology to allow more of the routine services to be offered electronically.
- RNUG - Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 12:55 pm:
I’ve used the drive-up facility in Springfield for plate renewals (4 different vehicles) consistently with no problems and usually no or animal wait. Just don’t be there the last day of the month or the first day of the month; mid-week is my norm.
As far as having to wait in line to go inside for transactions, again, avoid Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and it’s minimal at both the Klein St and Dirksen factories. Mrs RNUG did a RealID paperwork driver’s license renewal at Klein in under 30 minutes. I did a new title, IDOR tax form, registration, and plates in less than 10 minutes (did fill out paperwork online and print ahead of time).
Had to get a corrected title at Dirksen, because title is a different section I got to bypass the line of about 8 people waiting for DL tests and stuff. Title took 40 or 50 minutes just because of all the internal cross-checking they had to do on the incorrectly issued title (again had all the paperwork in order first). Got that in the mail in less than 2 weeks.
So, at least in Springfield, I see SOS providing more or less the expected service.
- Anyone Remember - Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 12:56 pm:
Until the “glut” / “backlog” is eliminated, SoS facilities are going to be a nightmare. My experience in Springfield is that generally, under Jesse White, lines were short to non-existent - until COVID. Now some lines look like Disneyworld rides.
- very old soil - Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 1:17 pm:
I picked up license plate sticker in Freeport last week. Waited fewer than 5 minutes at walk-up window.
- Ron Burgundy - Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 1:21 pm:
I understand the need for the extensions but hope this is the last. At some point they have to tell people we need to get back to normal operations, and just suck it up and do the work to process everybody, whether that involves talking to the union about extending hours, etc. let’s get creative.
- Huh? - Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 1:40 pm:
I second RNUG use of the SoS office on Dirksen. Drive up service for license plates is a dream.
- thoughts matter - Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 2:40 pm:
There is an long list in the post about services that can be done electronically. What more services do you think should be done online? Because you still need to prove your identity and testing needs to be done in a supervised manner, we don’t want repeats of unqualified people getting licenses that they don’t deserve.
I recommend bypassing the busier facilities for ones in smaller towns. Yes you may need to drive a few extra miles, but you mrwait will probably be less time. Also, review the needed documents online and bring them and have them organized. Make life easier for everyone.
- Finally Out - Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 9:41 pm:
TSA answer to OneMan’s question:
Travelers with a state driver’s license that expired beginning on March 1, 2020, and who are not able to renew at their state driver’s license agency may still use it as acceptable identification at the checkpoint. TSA will accept expired driver’s licenses a year after the expiration date, plus 60 days after the duration of the COVID-19 national emergency.