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Governor Sonny Perdue Attends Opening of New Driver's License Customer Service Center in Downtown Atlanta

Friday, January 13, 2006  Contact: Office of Communications 404-651-7774

Governor Sonny Perdue Attends Opening of New Driver’s License Customer Service Center in Downtown Atlanta

Extended Hours Now Available at 10 Locations

ATLANTA – Today Governor Sonny Perdue and Commissioner Greg Dozier opened the newest Department of Driver Services (DDS) Customer Service Center (CSC) in Atlanta at 445 Capitol Avenue Southeast (corner of Fulton Street and Capitol Avenue). Former DMVS offices in downtown Atlanta were closed in July 2004 due to structural damage. The new 5,000 square foot facility will provide many licensing services including written testing, renewals, replacement of lost licenses, the issuance and renewal of Georgia Identification Cards, reinstatements and personal driving histories. The center will be assigned 14 licensed examiners. The opening of the new center fulfills Governor Perdue’s commitment to make licensing services accessible to all customers by bringing a DDS presence back to downtown Atlanta.

“It is imperative for the people of Georgia to receive efficient, customer-friendly service from their state government. Reinstating this facility in the heart of downtown Atlanta will help busy Georgia drivers complete their business at the DDS in a timely manner and get on with their day with a smile on their face,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.

Under Governor Perdue’s direction, the DDS has been aggressively streamlining the licensing processes to improve efficiency and customer service. A joint partnership between Georgia Tech’s Economic Development Institute (GTEDI) and DDS identified many new customer service enhancements which have proven to increase efficiency and improve customer wait times.

“The new process flow will allow citizens to get in and out in the most efficient manner possible,” said DDS Commissioner Greg Dozier. “ The design allows for a more resourceful flow of customers.”

The Capitol Avenue center will debut with many new customer service enhancements including:

  • Expanded hours of 7:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
  • An express line for regular renewals only
  • New payment options including credit/debit and check acceptance in addition to cash and money order
  • A workstation available for customers to begin paperwork before their number is called
  • Improved signage to eliminate customer confusion inside the center
  • Improved routing of customers through the center, eliminating the need to move from station to station for different activities or sit down numerous times
  • A process for customers with more complicated issues to be handled by a central help desk instead of driver examiners
  • Relocation of equipment such as the fax machine and copier, eliminating the necessity for examiners to leave the station while assisting customers

Ten driver’s license customer service centers are now offering extended hours to better serve DDS customers. Athens, Atlanta (downtown), Conyers, Lawrenceville, Lithonia, Locust Grove, Marietta, Norcross, North Cobb and Sandy Springs open at 7:30 a.m. and close at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Previously all CSCs opened at 9:00 a.m. and frequently had long lines of customers waiting to be served.

Complete information on licensing services both online and in person may be found at www.dds.ga.gov.