By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
There is a campaign to save the driver license office in Nephi which was closed at the first of the year.
Cindy Hunt, Levan, wrote a letter to Juab County Commissioners which they read in open meeting which said that closing the office was “very detrimental to the people of our area.”
That has been the case especially since, effective January 1, 2010, ALL applicants for a Utah driver license (original, renewal or duplicate) or Identification card have to show up at an office in person.
In addition, they need to provide: original or copies certified by the issuing agency showing evidence of identity; legal/lawful presence in the US; a Social Security Number or ITIN; two proofs of Utah residence address, if it is different than the address on the current Utah record; and evidence of name change, if applicable.
After December 21, no one could renew a driver license through the US mail or on the internet. This option was discontinued due to new legislation.
“There are long lines and hours of waiting at all the offices plus the travel time,” said Val Jones, commission chairman. “That is a hardship on the people from our area.”
He said one student and his parents traveled to Delta to obtain a license.
Jones said that commissioners had invited Cheryl Searle, of the State of Utah Division of Facilities Construction and Management Real Estate Manager, to meet with them. She had accepted and they took her on a tour of available office space in Nephi that would meet the needs of the driver license office.
“She said the division is looking at making a regional office here,” said Jones.
He said the commission discussed options with Searle who said she would report to the state Department of Administrative Services and they would then report back to the commission.
“A regional office here would help Delta, Fillmore and North Sanpete,” said Jones.
In fact, he said, such an office would also help the south end of Utah County and the communities of Santaquin and Payson. The distance to Nephi would not be long for them. They now make a trip to Orem and the lines in Nephi would be shorter which would save them time.
“I hope we can stay in touch and make it happen,” said Jones.
He said that Hunt was not the only person to contact the commission requesting that they do all they can to have a driver license office in Nephi.
