Private Driving Testers Will Speed Up Licensing Process

A new law that will take effect next year will reduce the amount of time driver’s license applicants have to wait to take a driving skills test.

Beginning Jan. 1, the driving skills test section of the application will be administered by private, contracted, certified testers. In large counties, the change could reduce the waiting time from two to three weeks to about three days.

The testers have received extensive training and the test has been revamped to more closely mirror recommended national standards.

The new law was passed by the 1997 Legislature and is designed to allow county sheriff’s deputies more time to devote to law enforcement.