Highway Patrol seeks larger license office

Highway Patrol seeks larger license office
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
By APRIL M. HAVENS
PASCAGOULA Mississippi Highway Patrol officials asked the county Monday to help ease their cramped conditions at the fairgrounds drivers license office.

Residents have complained of lines stretching outside the building and average waiting periods of two or more hours, and authorities have said the current space is too small to add extra workers or equipment.

Jackson County supervisors said Monday they will look into expansion projects or relocating the license office into a new, more centralized location, possibly on Miss. 57.

"We need help," said Highway Patrol Capt. Tyrone Lockwood, assistant director of driver services. "If we had the space, we could put the people and the equip ment in there."

In January, state Department of Public Safety leaders said new equipment and a larger staff should help speed the process of getting or renewing drivers licenses in Jackson County.

Last month, the local office received an extra

license-processing machine, which takes drivers' photos and updates information, said Master Sgt. Janita West, who oversees driver services in the Southern District. The Southern District includes five permanent offices and one temporary location in Jackson, George, Harrison, Hancock, Stone and Pearl River counties.

The state added 51 of the machines to offices around the state this year, and license renewal costs will increase $1, from $20 to $21, to help pay for them.

West said historically she has had difficulty staffing the fairgrounds office, which processes 200-300 people per day. The office had three staff members earlier this year, but now it has five, West told supervisors. An influx of residents after Hurricane Katrina flooded the southern offices, she said.

"Everybody knows we've got a real problem out there," Supervisor Tommy Brodnax said, noting he has been in talks with the Highway Patrol to learn its needs.

Board President Manly Barton said the board has only discussed the small license office in the past, "but this time it looks like we're getting a little further."

Barton said the board will sit down with Highway Patrol officials later this week if possible to discuss needs and options.