MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency says it has taken steps to address long license renewal lines by upgrading and modernizing the state's driver license system.
The agency evaluated state departments and found the licensing system was in need of an overhaul, Alabama Secretary of Law Enforcement Spencer Collier said.
"Throughout the transition process, we examined the core functions of each legacy agency and determined the Driver License system was inefficient and archaic," Collier said in a release. Al.com quoted him as saying that in some cases customers were spending six to eight hours in line.
Officials said upgrades to the system include: online appointment scheduling; an online driver's license renewal option; self-serve license renewal kiosks; updated computer testing stations; and digital licenses that smartphone users can show as a secure form of identification.
The digital licenses will be considered a valid form of ID for drivers who are pulled over by police, said Alabama Law Enforcement Agency spokeswoman Anna Morris.
Drivers who choose to renew their licenses online will be asked to print a temporary version to carry with them until the replacement arrives.
Aside from streamlining the renewal process for customers, Collier said the upgrades will also save the state money.
"This should reduce the amount of examiners that we need, in saying that, we can't go any lower than we already are as far as personnel," Al.com quoted Collier as saying.