Those seeking to obtain or renew their Alabama driver’s license will have to wait a week before doing so, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA).
In a release, ALEA advised that its Driver License Examining Offices across the state will temporarily close from Monday, April 18 to Tuesday, April 26. The temporary closure is due to an upgrade of ALEA’s Driver License System, known as LEADS, which is a nearly two decades-old system.
According to the agency, a temporary office closure is necessary to efficiently transfer data.
ALEA secretary Hal Taylor acknowledged the short-term inconvenience of the closure and spoke to the enhanced experience the system will provide once the upgrade is complete.
“We understand that it may cause an inconvenience to some citizens that will not have full access of the Driver License Division’s resources and capabilities, but we assure everyone the result will be impressive, providing significant improvements for both citizens as well as Driver License employees across the state,” advised Taylor.
ALEA driver license examiners will be available to administer Class D and CDL Road Skills Tests during the closure. Citizens who completed these tests will not be issued a copy of their license until offices are reopened, ALEA noted.
The new system will enable users to pre-apply for an Alabama Driver License and enter all necessary information prior to visiting a local office.
Taylor went on to thank Gov. Kay Ivey and state lawmakers for providing ALEA with the resources that made the upgrade possible.
“We would like to thank Governor Ivey and all members of the Legislature for continuously supporting our Agency and providing us with the necessary resources to complete such a monumental and historic project for the state of Alabama,” he added.
According to ALEA Department of Public Safety (DPS) director colonel Jimmy Helms, the system upgrade was one of his “top priorities.”
“The modernization of our Driver License system has been one of the top priorities since the beginning of my administration, and I would like to take this opportunity to assure everyone this will be the first of many steps within ALEA’s plan to continue to enhance the driver license experience for all Alabamians,” stated Helms.
“However, I also want to highlight and make note that the upcoming driver license office closure may affect several of the industries within our state and I ask everyone to begin making preparations immediately for the upcoming closure to reduce the potential for any negative impacts within your industry,” concluded the department director.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
