OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — For those who dread the endless waiting in lines at the state Department of Licensing, there may be hope in sight.
Democratic Rep. Dave Upthegrove of Des Moines wants to reduce wait times at the DOL by contracting out licensing exams to private driving schools.
His bill, introduced Thursday at a public hearing, also decreases the frequency with which licenses must be renewed, from every five years to every six years.
By sending drivers to the 160 driving schools around Washington instead of the 30 state DOL sites for their tests, Upthegrove hopes to eliminate the most time-consuming task of DOL staff, freeing them to more quickly help customers.
The bill also limits the price private companies can charge for the exams to $25.
