People can now renew or replace their driver’s licenses at a self-service kiosk at UTC.
The kiosk, in the University Center, is one of 37 scattered at universities, police precincts and libraries throughout the state.
Kiosk hours
The self-service driver’s license kiosk at UTC is accessible at the University Center at 642 East Fifth St. The hours are:› 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday› 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday› 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday
A new driver’s license renewal kiosk is seen located in the UTC University Center before a news conference to announce its placement on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The new kiosk will allow the public to renew or replace their existing Tennessee driver’s license without a visit to the Department of Safety offices.“Have you ever stood in line at the driver’s license place?” asked Richard Brown, executive vice chancellor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
The crowd laughed, then Brown described lines at driver services centers that sometimes extend beyond the door and into the parking lot.
He spoke to more than a dozen dance team members, UTC and state officials all gathered for the presentation Friday afternoon.
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security contacted the school about six months ago, asking if it would accept the kiosk. Brown said he was grateful UTC was considered.
“About 14,000 people a day come on this campus, and most of them have driver’s licenses,” said Bill Gibbons, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. “We look at this as an opportunity to have a convenient service for literally thousands of people on campuses across our state, as well as other people who live in the area.”
Anyone with a license can use the kiosk to change addresses, replace or renew a license, Gibbons said.
The Department of Safety and Homeland Security wants to develop partnerships for kiosks at universities across the state. The University of Tennessee at Knoxville, University of Memphis and Middle Tennessee State University already have kiosks. The department is close to having a kiosk at Tennessee State University in Nashville.
The kiosk is the latest of three in Chattanooga. Others are located in the Hamilton County Clerk’s office and at the driver’s license service center on Bonny Oaks Drive.
The license-option expansion got a kickoff that might seem out-of-step for the usual somber license facility mood.
With pompoms waving, hands clapping and feet stepping, UTC’s dance team led a cheer to start the presentation.
“Let’s go Mocs” and “We are Chattanooga,” they chanted.
Team Mascot Scrappy walked through the crowd high-fiving the audience.
“I don’t have to go all the way to Bonny Oaks Drive,” said Aaron Randall, a junior majoring in business. “Having it right here makes it so I can just come, get my picture done and get a new license.”
Contact staff writer Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfreepress.com or 757-6431.