In an effort to be proactive about the local launch of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Real ID, Daviess County Circuit Court Clerk Jennifer Hardesty Besecker will hold informational sessions for the public.
The community is encouraged to attend one of two sessions, bringing necessary documents for review by the Circuit Clerk’s staff to ensure all meet the federal requirements for the Voluntary Travel licenses, or Real IDs.
“I want Daviess County to be as helpful as we can to eliminate people’s frustrations with this process,” Hardesty Besecker said. “We know it’s going to be a difficult transition.”
The Real ID rollout was launched in Franklin and Woodford Counties earlier this year, but was paused in mid-July after KYTC experienced multiple delays and equipment and software issues. According to Hardesty Besecker, the typical 6- to 8-minute wait normally experienced by those in the Circuit Clerk’s driver’s license office jumped to 15 to 20 minutes with the Real ID transition.
Hardesty Besecker said a lot of the extra time is a result of how applicants will apply for their Real ID. Kentucky Circuit Court Clerks will no longer issue licenses. Instead, they will simply scan documents for KYTC. The applicant (or customer) will actually input all of his or her own information on a tablet at the Circuit Clerk’s Office, which Hardesty Besecker said is taking longer than anticipated.
“Those offices are having to shut their doors early to accommodate the longer wait times,” she said. “We are hoping to eliminate that and get people out the door quickly.”
Hardesty Besecker will hold sessions at the Daviess County Public Library on Tuesday, Sept. 10, from 3 to 6 p.m. and Thurs., Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Those that attend are encouraged to bring their documents required for the Real ID for Circuit Clerk staff to review. A list of necessary documents can be found here.
Hardesty Besecker said she hopes to have additional sessions in the future. KYTC has still not announced a Real ID rollout date for Daviess County.
