SB 71: Kloucek, Dems Fight for Small-Town Drivers License Stations

Kloucek Pokes at Executive Branch

Senator Frank Kloucek (D-19/Scotland) is on the job for small towns. After South Dakota's executive branch closed 15 small-town drivers licensing stations, he's proposing Senate Bill 71 to reopen those stations, not to mention reassert the Legislature's authority on such matters.

Our man Rep. Mitch Fargen (D-8/Flandreau) is on board as a sponsor. So is Sen. Scott Heidepriem (D-13/Sioux Falls). Heidepriem's sponsorship is interesting, given that the small-town closures were done to divert resources for expanding drivers licensing services for his own Sioux Falls constituents.

There is one Republican among the sponsors, but the rest are all Democrats. Once again, Frank Kloucek and the Dems lead the charge as the true defenders of small-town South Dakota.

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Related: Senator Kloucek is also sponsoring SB 72, which adds an English language requirement to drivers license exams.

But here's a real kicker: Kloucek's SB 73 would provide funding for six full-time interpreters drivers license station interpreters, two each for Sioux Falls, Rapid City and Aberdeen. Where does he find the funding for these interpreters? By cutting six FTE's from the FY2010 appropriation for the Office of the Governor.

Hyde County Shows How to Save Rural Drivers License Stations

...or, Rounds Administration shows how not to involve local officials in problem solving.

State Representative Bill Van Gerpen from Tyndall is working with state, county, and local officials to find a way to re-open the rural drivers license stations that Pierre closed to cut wait times for Sioux Falls drivers.

Rep. Van Gerpen, call former Rep. Nick Nemec. Mr. Nemec provides a solution that could re-establish drivers license stations to most of the rural communities—or at least their counties—by Christmas:

Highmore lost its drivers license examiner years ago. But the solution has been better than the old status quo. Now if you need to renew or even get a license for the first time you just go to the county treasurers office. Hyde County Treasurer Sandi Hemminger administers the written test, the eye exam, and takes your photo with a digital camera. Sheriff Mike Volek administers the driving test if needed. All the results and the photo are electronically transmitted to Pierre, and in a few days your new license comes in the mail. When this system was first implemented during the Janklow years it was touted as a way to save money and provide better service to rural SD.

I assume it has saved money and the service is much better. The treasurers office is open 5 days a week while the examiner used to come to town only once every month or so.

There are ways to do things better without sticking it to rural SD. We just have to think of them. I don't know if this system will be allowed in other towns. If I remember correctly Hyde County agreed to try if on a trial basis and was the first, and maybe only, county in the state to do so [Nick Nemec, comment, Madville Times, 2009.10.09].

Department of Public Safety Secretary Tom Dravland tells the Yankton Press & Dakotan he's "willing to discuss with legislators and with other South Dakota citizens any suggestions for ways to deliver driver licensing service." Of course, if the Rounds administration had talked to county officials before imposing this plan, the folks at the courthouses in Olivet, Britton, Canton, and elsewhere would have had time to study their options. They could have talked to the folks in Hyde County, studied the cost and details, and worked out a plan with Sec. Dravland to cut costs and improve service for everyone, not just the big city. The state could have transitioned to a plan that everyone in Pierre, Sioux Falls, and our small towns could join hands and sing kumbayah over.

But effective participatory government isn't nearly as fun as ruling by fiat and torquing off a bunch of small-town voters and legislators, right?

State Govt Restructuring Eliminates Drivers License Exam Stations

Candidate Munsterman, I smell another small-town campaign issue!

Not only does your driver's license cost 150% more now, but many of you will have to drive farther to get your license renewed. Folks up in Britton are seeing their local driver's license services end next month. Britton is losing theirs because, says the state, the Britton station issues less than 0.4% of licenses and IDs statewide. As of October 1, they'll have to drive 42 miles to Webster... assuming their licenses haven't expired. The exam station in Webster is open Fridays 08:00–16:30, so Marshall County drivers will have to take off work to get renewed.

According to the Marshall County Journal, the state appears to be cutting back to 56 licensing stations. That closes 16 of the currently listed 72 stations. I'm looking around for a complete list of the closures, but I hear Howard, Salem, and Flandreau may all lose their already infrequent visits from the driver's license examiner. I'm also trying to find whether this is coming from the Legislature (you know, the folks who vote for increased fees for less service) or if this is simply an in-agency decision to streamline budgets. More tips are welcome!

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Update 15:05 CDT: Make that 17 towns losing service. State driver's licensing director Cindy Gerber says this move reduces the number of offices from 74 to 57 (I guess I can't count). The Aberdeen American News has the list:

1. Beresford
2. Britton
3. Canton
4. Clark
5. Clear Lake
6. De Smet
7. Deadwood
8. Flandreau
9. Freeman
10. Howard
11. Mission
12. Parkston
13. Philip
14. Platte
15. Salem
16. Tyndall
17. Wagner

And cut the legislature some slack: yes, they increased our fees, but according to Rep. Sue Wismer (D-Britton), no one informed legislators that this fee hike would be followed by a reduction of services. Rep. Wismer and likely a number of her fellow non-metro legislators are not pleased:

"I find it kind of sad commentary on how unimportant (the state feels) it is to involve the Legislature in decisions that affect rural populations," she said. "It's this kind of action that breeds mistrust and long-lasting ill will between legislators and Pierre."

Some poor and elderly people in the Britton area seldom leave town, and now will be forced to drive at least 45 miles to renew their licenses, she said.

"It appears (the state is) taking the process of county consolidation into their own hands," Wismer said, referencing an idea that has been occasionally discussed in Pierre [Scott Waltman, "Driver's Exam Stations Closing in Britton, Other Communities," Aberdeen American News, 2009.08.28].

I can understand Rep. Wismer's frustration. She and her legislative colleagues (like our own Senator Russell Olson) now have to explain to voters why they are paying more and getting less. Besides, some legislators floated a county consolidation resolution this year; it failed to survive its first committee vote. The executive branch seems to be sneaking ahead where the Legislature has said 'Don't go there."

Update 15:30 CDT: Bob Mercer notes that the Rounds Administration gave no one any indication this move was coming. I smell rotten sneakers here....