Mail-order driver license is “ify” in Florida

While 35 of 50 states already issue drivers licenses and state identification cards through the mail, Florida does not. More than 5-years-ago, struggling with budget cuts and growing costs associated with maintaining local DMV offices, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles decided to close all or most of its existing locations.

The closure of the Motor Vehicle department inside the Highway Patrol station on SR-16 had little adverse effect on local residents because St Johns County Tax Collector Dennis Hollingsworth was one of the first to come on board as a DMV Agency. You can test for a new license, renew or replace your existing license, and you can purchase your license plate all in one stop.

Hollingsworth says that he is able to maintain a high level of customer service for local taxpayers; and Monday, he announced, in conjunction with Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam, our local tax collector’s office will accept applications and issue concealed weapons permits.

This is all good news for St Johns County for two reasons. First, it is very convenient to visit and transact business with the tax collector; and, if you have a question about any of their services, someone there will help you get an answer.

Secondly, the local tax collector earns a fee for each transaction. That translates into additional revenue at the point of sale which lowers the cost of operating the tax collector’s office.

So, there’s the rub.

Some businesses, like MorphoTrust USA, a Massachusetts company, have been under contract to the State of Florida since 2002 to provide the specialized digital printing equipment necessary to produce the high-security polycarbonate cards.

According to the department, the vendor received a fee on each licensed produced; earning them a tidy $9.7 million in Florida last year. But, if they could convince the state to switch to a system known as “central issuance”, it could mean a windfall for them.

Whoever receives the contract, that private vendor would manage the issuance of new and renewed licenses and photo identification cards to 5 million Floridians every year.

During last week’s cabinet meeting in St Augustine, the topic was not on the agenda; however, on Tuesday, opposition was heard by the state’s tax collectors at their conference in Orlando.

According to the executive director of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Terry Rhodes, no decision has been made to switch, and, before it is, any change is subject to the tax collectors’ approval.

Any final decision to switch to central issuance of the licenses would have to get past Governor Rick Scott and the three cabinet members who oversee the highway safety agency. Two of those three in St Augustine commented after Tuesday’s meeting had concluded.

Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater had high praise for the relationship that makes the local tax collector the delivery agent for state licenses. Commissioner Putnam added that any proposal to switch would be doomed unless it enjoys the support of the tax collectors — however, he noted that allowing drivers licenses to be mailed is the norm in 35 states, so, it’s worth looking at.