Governor Greg Abbott sent an order to the Texas Department of Public Safety this week ordering an immediate resolution of long waits in driver’s license centers
PLANO, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott sent a brief to the Texas Department of Public Safety this week ordering an immediate resolution to long waits with the state’s driving license authorities.
“The Texan legislature heard you loud and clear,” Abbott said in a video posted on Twitter. “You are tired of wasting your time waiting in long lines just to get your driver’s license. To remedy this, lawmakers have allocated $ 200 million to hire the staff needed to expedite the process. “
Legislators added about $ 200 million to the DPS budget for its driver license offices this year, bringing the total to about $ 500 million in driver license budget.
The additional funding is scheduled to take effect on September 1st.
The additional expenses are paid for 762 new employees and give the current employees a raise.
Abbott said more needs to be done to reduce waiting times.
“Well, today I signed this directive to the head of the Texas Department of Public Security to take immediate action to shorten the lines at driver’s license offices because your time is too precious,” Abbott said.
DPS officials said they agree with the governor that “Texans don’t have to wait in long lines at driver’s license offices”.
Once the additional funding goes into effect, the department will quickly fill hundreds of new positions to reduce waiting times in the busiest offices.
There were long queues at the driver’s license center in Plano and McKinney on Tuesday.
“I think it’s a shame that we can’t organize it better,” said Sharon O’dell in front of the center of Plano. “I don’t know the answer, but there has to be a better way than taking us all off here in the heat.”
