DPS Kiosks in Mississippi
Driver's license kiosks expand with another 29 units. Large picture of unit included.
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Renewing a driver's license has meant a trip to the local license office and likely an extended wait in line, but the Mississippi Department of Public Safety is announcing it is expanding its use of kiosks that process renewals in minutes.
The self-service machines were first placed in seven driver's license offices in December, according to a news release from the Department of Public Safety. There are now 29 kiosks in license offices and two stand alone machines in the Harrison and Yazoo county courthouses .
Instead of standing in line for hours, most transactions can be completed in just two minutes, the news release stated.
Stephen Simpson, Department of Public Safety commissioner, said, "We have seen a steady increase in the number of people now using our kiosks. I believe with more machines available across the state fewer drivers will have to stand in line; and that means Mississippians can get on with their day rather than spending time in our driver services' buildings.
And, Gov. Haley Barbour said, "Given the option of standing in line or utilizing something as familiar as an ATM, I believe a lot of Mississippians will take advantage of this technology. The easier and less-painful we can make license renewal, it's better for the state, and more importantly, it's better for the taxpayer."
The kiosks work by swiping a driver's license or credit card just like a at an ATM, the news release stated. Limited information appears on the screen and the user can verify information on the driver's license, take a new picture and pay for the renewal using a debit or credit card.
Simpson says the kiosks have safety features to protect each user's identity.
"The one-to-one facial recognition technology compares the photo on the driver's license to the new photo of the person standing in front of the kiosk. If they don't match, you can't renew a license at the kiosk," Simpson said.
Mississippi is the first sate to use the new technology, according to the news release.
The Harrison and Yazoo courthouses are the first outside of licenses offices, Simpson said.
"I promised efficiency and convenience when I introduced to first kiosk in December. That means placing them not only in our buildings but at courthouses and public buildings, places where drivers might realize their license is expired. Now drivers won't have to go out of their way to get their license renewed," Simpson said.
Area driver's license kiosks
Hancock County
Driver's License Station, 3016 Stringfellow Road, Bay St. Louis.
Harrison County
Mississippi Highway Patrol Troop K Building,16741 Highway 67, Biloxi.
Driver's License Station, 10393 Automall Parkway (MEMA trailer), D'Iberville.
Harrison County Courthouse, 1801 23rd Ave., Gulfport.
Jackson County
Fairgrounds, 2914 Shortcut Road, Pascagoula.
Posted by staff at August 17, 2010 07:03 AM