Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Peter Lacy to step down

The head of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles is stepping down, Gov. Eric Holcomb's office announced Tuesday.

Peter Lacy will step down on May 27, after serving as the commissioner for more than six years. Joe Hoage, the commissioner of the Indiana Department of Labor and former BMV general counsel will serve as the new agency head.

In the news release from Holcomb's office, Lacy did not say why he was leaving.

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“The focus during my time with the agency has been on driving the state forward and thinking beyond the traditional expectations of a motor vehicle agency,” Lacy said in a statement. “I am grateful to Governor Holcomb for the opportunity to serve our state and for his support of the agency’s goals, which has enabled us to keep providing efficient, exceptional service to Hoosiers.”

Holcomb appointed Lacy in 2017 after a stint as chief of staff.

He praised Lacy for maintaining an average branch visit time under 20 minutes and increased Real ID adoption from 23% to 70%. Holcomb added that Lacy "prioritized efficiency" and "focused on quality."

“Commissioner Lacy has delivered outstanding service to Hoosiers by investing in new technology and empowering employees to drive change,” Holcomb said in a statement. “The result is an agency that provides Hoosiers with great customer service and more choices about how they interact with the agency."

Lacy also oversaw the agency when it added a non-binary gender option, designated by an "X," on driver's licenses and identification cards in 2019. The decision was questioned by some conservatives.

Call IndyStar reporter Kaitlin Lange at 317-432-9270 or email her at kaitlin.lange@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter: @kaitlin_lange.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana BMV Commissioner Peter Lacy to step down