SEPTEMBER 25, 2009
Secretary Land advises customers to consider needs now
to avoid delays
Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land today encouraged
Michigan residents to consider early renewal options for driver's licenses or
license plate tabs to avoid delays in the event of a state government shutdown
Oct. 1.
"Residents who need Secretary of State services in the next couple of weeks
may want to take care of business ahead of time," Land said. "Although I remain
hopeful that lawmakers and the governor will reach a budget agreement, customers
should know their options now in case a shutdown occurs. People can visit a
branch office or skip the trip by
renewing online,
over the phone or
by mail."
Online,
Self-Service Station and touch-tone phone license plate renewal is available
to those customers with a renewal notice that has a personal identification
number (PIN).
Self-Service Stations are ATM-style machines that feature simple
touch-screen instructions and can dispense new license tabs within minutes.
Customers simply scan the bar code on a renewal notice that has their correct
name, address, vehicle information and PIN, and swipe any branded debit or
credit card to pay their registration fees. Some Self-Service Stations are open
24 hours, seven days a week. A list of those locations can be found on the
Branch Office Locator on the department's Web site at
www.Michigan.gov/sos.
Land also reminds customers that many transactions require several days
processing time.
The lack of a state budget for the fiscal year that starts Thursday, Oct. 1,
would close most state agencies until a budget is approved by the Legislature
and signed by the governor. In addition to the branch office closures,
department personnel who process transactions conducted online or through the
mail would not be working so those transactions would be delayed as well.
Each day, the Michigan Department of State processes about 80,000
transactions, including 10,000 driver's licenses, 33,000 license plate tabs and
10,000 vehicle titles. About 57,000 of those transactions are conducted at
branch offices with the others conducted over the Internet, telephone or by
mail.
Visit www.Michigan.gov/sos or call 1-888-SOS-MICH
(1-888-767-6424) for information about Department of State programs, services,
and office locations and hours.
Printer Friendly
Text Version
Twitter
Facebook
Yahoo
Google
Digg
Newsvine
StumbleUpon
Bookmark
Email Page
Stay Connected
Get Lottery Drawing Information!
Get the Latest News!