MONTGOMERY -- The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) has postponed its Driver License Division's Saturday operations launch in Baldwin County as the satellite courthouses in Fairhope and Foley will be closed with forecasts calling for severe weather Saturday, Jan. 11.
A notice from the Baldwin County Commission today, Jan. 10, stated: "Due to impending inclement weather conditions which may pose a hazard to the safety and welfare of the general public, the State Driver License Offices will be closed on Saturday, January, 11, 2020."
Plans now are to begin Saturday driver license operations at 7 a.m. Jan. 18 and serve the public until 3 p.m. that day. These two locations will bring to 11 the total number of ALEA Driver License offices across the state open Saturdays. .
On Dec. 19, when the agency announced the Baldwin County additions, ALEA’s Secretary Hal Taylor said, “Collaboration on local and state levels enables our agency to work toward meeting the needs of the citizens of Alabama.”
ALEA launched its Saturday driver license operations pilot program in early April at the Birmingham, Opelika and Mobile locations. In early November, the agency added the Huntsville office to the lineup, and it further expanded the program Dec. 3 to include Montgomery, Sheffield, Tuscaloosa, Jacksonville and Dothan offices. Response has been favorable.
Rep. Steve McMillan, R-District 95, said, “The Baldwin County Commission, Baldwin County Legislative Delegation and ALEA together formed a partnership to further expand driver license services.”
Also pleased with the partnership, state Sen. T. Christopher Elliott, R-District 32, said, “I am thrilled we worked to develop a solution that opens driver license examining offices on Saturdays in Baldwin County. These additional hours will significantly reduce wait times in Foley and Fairhope. The additional availability on the weekends will also mean that citizens will not have to miss school or work in order to see an examiner.”
Again, Saturday hours at ALEA’s driver license locations listed above are from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. During that time, customers are assisted on a first-come, first-served basis for such services as first issuances and renewals of standard driver licenses and non-driver IDs, as well as STAR IDs; knowledge and road skills tests; and out-of-state transfers. For reinstatement, customers may call 334.242.4400 Monday through Friday.
Full Public Notice from Baldwin County Commission:
CLOSING OF BALDWIN COUNTY COMMISSION
FAIRHOPE AND FOLEY SATELLITE COURTHOUSES
(STATE DRIVER LICENSE OFFICES)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2020
Due to impending inclement weather conditions which may pose
a hazard to the safety and welfare of the general public, the State
Driver License Offices will be closed on Saturday, January 11,
2020.
The Fairhope and Foley Satellite Courthouses will resume
the Saturday opening hours for State Driver License Offices the
following Saturday, January 18, 2020, 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
Regular Courthouse and State Driver License services
operations will resume Monday, January 13, 2020, at 8:00 a.m.
