Illinois secretary of state reminds drivers of Dec. 1 license extension expiration
The Illinois secretary of state's office is making a last-minute push to remind people of the end date of the agency's extension of driver's license and ID card expiration dates. The state is not planning to make any further extensions of the moratorium brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The office plans to restore expiration periods for identification after Dec. 1, bringing an end to nearly two years of extensions for driver's licenses or IDs because of COVID-19.
Henry Haupt, a spokesman for Secretary of State Jesse White, said an end to the expiration moratorium was something that was bound to happen at a certain point, even with the pandemic dragging on.
"They had to end at some point," Haupt said. "We last extended them over the summer and we did a pretty heavy PR push to highlight that the extension would end Dec. 1. We're now closing in on Dec. 1 and we thought it was appropriate to remind the public one more time."
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The office started its final push last week and already has seen an uptick in the number of people coming into driver's facilities in order to get their license or ID renewed. Haupt points out that people don't have to go to a facility in order to get a renewal, as the department has greatly expanded its online presence.
"We've seen a large number of people over the last six months and even beyond that have been renewing," Haupt said.
Drivers can log on to ilsos.gov and click on "DL/State ID Renewal" in order to begin the process. Those who have received their renewal letter with a PIN or Renewal Authorization Number that do not need a road test, written examination or updated medical or vision reports can renew online. People can log on to ilsos.gov/renewaldlid/eligible or call 217-785-1424 to see if they are eligible.
They can also renew in the traditional in-person fashion at one of the many state drivers' facilities across Illinois, including the three in Springfield on Dirksen Parkway, Second Street and Klein Street. Other facilities locally include those in Lincoln, Taylorville, Hillsboro, Carlinville and Jacksonville. The Dirksen Parkway facility is available via appointment only; one can register online at ilsos.gov or call 844-817-4649.
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For the most part, Haupt said nothing major will change as a result of the end of the extension. Employees will continue to provide the same level of service they did before.
"(It's) the same exact way they would go about doing it now," Haupt said. "They would renew their licenses in the exact same fashion. What we have seen is an increase in foot traffic at the facilities since we put out the release reminding people of the Dec. 1 deadline and we expected that and our facilities expected that. They are doing their absolute best to address the increase in volume."
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Illinois reminds drivers of license extension expiration
