June 2021: Issue No. 2

Kentucky State Police Opens New Driver Testing Locations

By Captain Marshall Johnson, KSP’s Commander of Driver Testing Kentucky State Police (KSP) has opened new locations for some Kentuckians to complete the required testing to obtain a state permit and driver license. In transitioning to this model we have the opportunity to offer better services and greater volume. The availability of appointments will increase based upon the regionalization of testing services. KSP is working with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Kentucky’s Circuit Court Clerks to open the remaining regional offices statewide by June 30, 2022. Each location will offer testing services Monday through Friday by appointment only. Applicants who require testing by KSP for a permit, driver license or commercial driver license may make an appointment online by visiting KSP's website and locating the schedule associated with their county of residence. Prior to the appointment, new drivers should prepare for the exam by accessing the only approved Kentucky driver’s manual online or by viewing it through the official KSP mobile app, ‘kspolice.' All driver testing materials can be viewed and printed free of charge. Upon completion and passage of a permit, driver or commercial driver licenses, applicants must make an appointment at a KYTC regional office to obtain their official state driving identification. Kentucky State Police Regional Driver Testing Locations Currently Operational Starting June 1, residents of Casey, McCreary, Pulaski, Rockcastle and Wayne counties should make an appointment on KSP's website to conduct permit, driver or commercial driver license testing at KYTC’s Somerset Regional Driver Licensing Office. Appointments are available Monday through Friday.  Starting June 7, KSP will begin offering regional testing services in Catlettsburg, Columbia, Jackson, Morehead and Prestonsburg. Appointments are available Monday through Friday and can be made online by visiting KSP's website.  KSP will offer driver testing at KYTC's Catlettsburg Regional Driver Licensing Office for residents of Boyd, Carter, Greenup and Lawrence counties. KSP will offer driver testing at KYTC's Columbia Regional Driver Licensing Office for residents of Adair, Clinton, Cumberland, Green, Metcalfe, Monroe, Russell and Taylor counties. KSP will offer driver testing at KYTC's Jackson Regional Driver Licensing Office for residents of Breathitt, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Owsley, Perry, Powell and Wolfe counties. KSP will offer driver testing at KYTC's Morehead Regional Driver Licensing Office for residents of Bath, Elliott, Fleming, Lewis, Mason, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan and Rowan counties. KSP will offer driver testing at KYTC's Prestonsburg Regional Driver Licensing Office for residents of Floyd, Johnson, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin and Pike counties.  KSP has provided more information on the new locations and scheduling system in a video.

Circuit Court Clerks' Mail-in Renewal Program Ends July 31; KYTC to Launch Online Renewal

At the beginning of this year, Transportation Secretary Jim Gray extended his executive order allowing the Circuit Court Clerks' Mail-in Renewal Program to run through June 30, 2021. KYTC Official Order No. 112400.

By extending this order due to COVID-19, Circuit Court Clerks continue to process mail-in renewal applications for operator's licenses, permits or identification cards that have expired or will expire through June 30, 2021.

Circuit Court Clerks have until July 31, 2021, to process all requests for licensing from the limited renewal process.

While the Official Order authorizing a limited mail-in renewal process has been place, KYTC’s Office of Technology and various partners have been working hard to provide Kentuckians with the opportunity to renew standard and REAL ID licenses online.

As the online licensing renewal launch date draws near, Circuit Court Clerks will soon receive a demonstration of the online renewal process by Department of Vehicle Regulation Commissioner Matt Cole.

Please watch your email inbox for an invitation to this demonstration. We hope you will be just as excited as we are to offer Kentuckians yet another way to obtain driving and REAL ID credentials.

TRANSITIONED COUNTIES:

Counties highlighted in above graphic. 

QUESTION & ANSWER:

Q: "Exactly what office equipment will be picked up, and when? Do I need to do anything to get the equipment ready for pick-up?" 

A: "The Kentucky Commonwealth Office of Technology (COT) will be picking up a workstation,  keyboard, mouse and monitors. Idemia Government Solutions will be picking up a camera and license printer. These items will be uninstalled on the day of pick up. KYTC will pick up the safe, which was issued to your office several years ago as a tool in carrying out your driver licensing duties. Please locate the safe. You will be notified in advance of a pick-up date. Equipment pick-up will start in late summer for those offices that have transitioned."  

Q: "What if I cannot locate any such safe? What process should I use to officially notify KYTC?"

A: "The safes, which were purchased with federal funds, were issued to each Circuit Court Clerk as a way to safeguard cash, blank checks and blank receipts. KYTC is obligated to recover these safes. If, for any reason, the safe cannot be located, the only action required is to send an official letter stating that the safe cannot be located addressed to Commissioner Matthew Cole at 200 Mero St., Frankfort, Kentucky, 40622."

Q: "Why can’t my office be next to transition off licensing?"

A: "Our guiding principle is to do what is best for the citizens we serve. To accomplish this, we are constantly re-evaluating the changing factors that come into play when looking at counties to transition: COVID restrictions; county population; regional office staffing levels; the county’s average monthly issuance numbers; the current bandwidth of the closest regional offices; the readiness and standing up of additional regional offices; regional offices’ network limitations; and #HealthyatWork guidelines. We ask for your patience and understanding." 

Bowling Green
Burlington
Catlettsburg
Columbia
Elizabethtown
Frankfort
Jackson
Lexington
Louisville:       
     * Bowman
        Hurstbourne
Madisonville
Morehead
Owensboro
Paducah
Prestonsburg
Richmond
Somerset

* temporary location by appointment only