State
Rep. Randall Shedd (R - Fairview), who serves as chairman of the House Interim
Committee on Driver’s License Review, joined with members of the panel on
Monday to announce new, streamlined procedures that allow former members of the
military to list their veteran status on Alabama drivers’ licenses and non-driver
IDs in an expedited manner.
“Numerous
discounts and other benefits are available to military veterans who can show
proof of their service, but the process of listing that status on Alabama
driver’s licenses has long been cumbersome, time-consuming, and
overly-complicated,” Shedd said. “The new process allows veterans to
secure accepted proof of their service in a faster manner with little to no
wait time, and we are proud to announce this benefit for our nation’s heroes
during the week of Veterans’ Day.”
Veterans
wishing to have their status noted were previously required required to take
military documentation, such as a DD-214 form or other proof of military
service, to the nearest driver’s license examination office, which often
resulted in extended wait times as they waited with new drivers taking tests
and others seeking assistance.
The
streamlined process allows veterans to bypass the exam office and take their
documentation directly to their local probate judge’s office or satellite
license office, which will dramatically reduce wait times and permit their
veteran status to be updated in an expedited, timely, and convenient manner.
Shedd
said several groups, including the Governor’s Office, the House leadership, the
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Alabama Department of Veterans’ Affairs,
and the Alabama Probate Judges’ Association, were involved in creating and
implementing the streamlined procedures.
The
interim House committee has been tasked with reviewing the process and
procedure of issuing drivers’ licenses in Alabama in order to seek ways to
reduce wait times and find methods for making driver’s license offices more
accessible to all Alabamians. Committee members have held meetings across the
state since it was established by a House resolution co-sponsored by 56
Republican members in 2016.
Members of the committee include Rep. Phillip Pettus (R-Killian), Rep. David Standridge (R-Hayden), Rep. Margie Wilcox (R-Mobile), Rep. Louise Alexander (D-Bessemer), and Rep. Dexter Grimsley (D-Newville).