It is great to be back home again. Truly, there is no place like southwest Georgia.

Although I am not in the Capitol, I am able to serve constituents from my office in Thomasville. I am staying in contact with my capitol office daily and I am happy to let you know I have been able to help several folks with a variety of issues. Please know I am here to help with problems concerning state agencies.

I would like to take this opportunity to share important information you may need. It concerns the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS). If you have had to renew your driver’s license, you may have already encountered new rules. The Real ID Act of 2005 (Federal Law) requires states to meet numerous security benchmarks. If we do not meet these requirements, our Georgia driver’s licenses will not be accepted for official identifications purposes for such things as boarding commercial aircrafts or entering federal buildings. 

Today, I would like to share some tips that may make it easier and less stressful for you or your family members. My goal is to increase the likelihood of a successful ONE VISIT ONLY visit to the Department of Driver Services. When renewing or obtaining a new Georgia driver’s license or ID card, please know:

• You can go on-line at www.dds.ga.gov (click on the blue box titled “Secure Driver’s License and ID”) and create and print a customized document checklist, listing the exact documents you should bring to the DDS center.

• You must present documentation to establish your identity, a name change, citizenship or lawful presence in the United States, a Social Security number, and TWO documents to prove residency (home address)

• If you exclusively use a post office box for your mail, you have several options to document your residence. You may use your voter’s registration card (available online at hhtp://mvp.sos.state.ga.us)or use a property tax, utility or cable bill, or an insurance card or statement that includes the actual service address.

• For persons who have never been married, if the last name appearing on the primary identification document (birth certificate, passport, etc.) is different from the current name, than you must be prepared to present additional supporting documents. This requirement applies even if you have been married for many years.

•  you currently hold a valid Georgia driver’s license or ID card you must present either the original or certified copies of documents to support your most recent name change (marriage certificate, certified marriage application, certified marriage license and/or divorce decree). If you are new to Georgia, you must provide the complete trail or original or certified copies of documents to support the name change(s).

• IF, you use a valid and up-to-date passport (current and correct name) as your identification, whether or not you are new to Georgia or if you already hold a Georgia driver’s license or ID card, you will not be required to show additional documentation proving identity.   

• Once your documents are on file with the Georgia Department of Driver’s Service, you can use the on line services for your next renewal.

The Department of Driver’s Service has seen an increase in the in-person customer transactions in recent months. To that end, during this year’s session the General Assembly was able increase funding to allow additional DSS staffing, which will alleviate the wait time. Please check with the local DDS center to check for office hours and when the peak hours or shortest wait times are.

The DDS is also moving more of the time-consuming transactions to their online services department.  For example, commercial driver’s license holders can now go online to fulfill the new medial certification requirements mandated by the federal government pursuant to 49CFR383.73(J). Future enhancements, including an online reinstatement of suspended driver’s license is being developed and should be ready for release in the fall. I am very hopeful that these tips will help you and make your trip to the DDS center more efficient. 

Please know I am still following the actions the governor takes on the legislation we passed in the House and Senate this session. As he concludes his review and signs the bills, I will keep you informed.  To date he has signed only a couple of bills that did not relate to local legislation — city and county legislation, or the budget. 

As part of my duties as your representative, over the next several months I will be attending several conferences to learn and share with other legislators. I was selected to represent Georgia as a task force member on Commerce, Insurance & Economic Development at the ALEC conference next month. I will be sharing what Georgians are doing and seek ideas from other states that will help us foster job growth and improve commerce here at home.  I look forward to bringing information back to you and advancing our district.

I encourage you to continue contacting me with any questions or concerns that you might have regarding your state government. You can reach me at my district office, 164 Commercial Drive, Thomasville, Georgia, telephone 229-225-9943, or at my capitol office at 404-656-0178 and by email at darlene.taylor@house.ga.gov.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your state representative.