Secretary of State Michael Watson announced upcoming legislation regarding a proposal to transfer functions of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to the Secretary of State’s Office. The “SIP Plan”, which stands for Service, Information and Professionalism, provides a roadmap to improve the way Mississippians get or renew their driver’s licenses.
The SIP Plan includes a list of proposals aimed to increase DMV efficiency, accessibility and the use of technology. Key changes include an opt-in renewal notification system, a digital license option, an updated user-friendly website, and an increase in the number of locations and functions of kiosks. The SIP Plan also focuses on outsourcing certain operations, such as the written and driven components of testing for both new drivers and Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL). Secretary Watson believes the CDL portion of the proposal would give Mississippi trucking companies a competitive edge nationwide, and would help bring more jobs to Mississippi.
Currently, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) is responsible for all driver’s license services. Secretary Watson, Senator David Parker, and Representative Lee Yancey are in the final stages of drafting the bill that will encourage the legislature to transfer the DMV to the Secretary of State’s Office.
“As I promised the voters of Mississippi, I’m proud to roll out our plan to revamp the DMV under our office,” said Secretary Watson. “The fine men and women in the Secretary of State’s Office have an exemplary record of handling administrative/clerical functions by bringing automation and top-notch customer service to the table, and I believe tasking our team with an overhaul of the DMV would yield the same results. I also think it is important to note that our plan relieves the brave men and women charged with keeping us safe from this administrative/clerical duty with which they are burdened, and allows them to focus on their core function of protecting all Mississippians.”
The transition from DPS to the Secretary of State’s Office creates opportunity for shorter wait times and more efficient services. For more information on the SIP Plan, visit sos.ms.gov.
Secretary of State Michael Watson Press Release
2/11/2020
Sarah Ulmer
