Tennessee: License contract hurts county clerks

A contract change this year between the state and Tennessee’s county clerks offices cuts services, convenience and even revenues in some counties, officials say.

The new contract no longer lets county clerks renew commercial driver’s licenses, also called CDLs, or issue licenses to new residents from out of state.

The federal “Real ID Act,” which sets strict standards for government-issued identification documents, forced the Tennessee Department of Safety to shift CDL and new resident business from clerks to state driver’s license testing stations, officials said.

McMinn County drivers have a state testing station in Athens, but most people prefer the comfort and convenience of dealing with local officials, County Clerk Evonne Hoback said.

“Local governments are where the rubber meets the road,” Ms. Hoback said. Local government can respond more quickly to customer needs, though she said she understands the state’s mandate.

She said duties might change again when contracts are revisited next year.

Although McMinn’s loss of CDL and out-of-state customers is balanced by increases in regular driver’s license renewals and duplicates, some counties will experience a financial blow, Ms. Hoback said.

Sequatchie County Clerk Charlotte Cagle said the change cuts her driver’s license-related revenues by about 25 percent.

“I’m anticipating losing at least $3,000 over this deal,” she said. Clerks offices are authorized to charge a $4 fee for the service.

Sequatchie County issued about 3,500 renewals, or new resident licenses a year, before the contract change.

“We’ll go down from 3,500 to about 2,400,” she said.

Convenience suffers in the rural county, too.

“It was very beneficial to new residents, especially,” she said. The nearest state station is in Jasper.

The Grundy County Clerk’s Office only renews regular licenses and won’t be effected by the contract change, officials there said.

Hamilton County Clerk Bill Knowles also said the changes won’t have much effect on his office. He just wants to give people the services they want, he said.

“It has not been a major part of our driver’s license service, but to be honest with you, I hate to lose any ability to help any citizen that comes into our office,” Mr. Knowles said.

Polk County Clerk Angie Sanford said she’s glad to have CDL renewals off her list of duties.

Her two-person office stays busy as it is, Ms. Sanford said.

She said the state stations in McMinn and Bradley counties already serve many of Polk’s drivers.

“We don’t really have many CDL licensees,” she said.

Rhea County Clerk Linda Shaver’s office doesn’t offer any driver’s license services, but that’s not from a lack of trying.

“I wish that I could,” Ms. Shaver said. She said the county sought a contract a few years ago, but the developing Real ID Act slowed up any agreements.

She plans to install the service eventually, she said.

Until then, Rhea’s drivers have to hit the road for the nearest state station, Ms. Shaver said.