State & Regional Interest	Tuesday, June 10, 2003
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DMV customers satisfied with Saturday service By JULIE HALENAR, (Published June 7‚ 2003) IRMO, S.C. (AP) - The Department of Motor Vehicles' decision to open six state offices on Saturdays was enough to get 15-year-old Holly Phillips out of bed at 7 a.m. She took the time to get a little practice before taking her driving test at the Irmo office on the day the department began opening its doors on Saturday. "It's easier. If you're here first, you go first, and the driving teachers are in a good mood," Phillips said. "I was here before the doors opened." There were a few computer problems Saturday, but overall Phillips and other customers praised the convenience and short lines. The Saturday office hours started just two days after Gov. Mark Sanford signed a bill that made the motor vehicle agency a cabinet-level department. Sanford also is a fan of Saturday office hours. "It's an example of something that's common sense," Sanford said. "It makes sense to have offices open in major metropolitan areas at a time when more folks are available to go to those offices." Offices in Aiken, Charleston, Florence, Greenville, Irmo and Rock Hill will be open all day on Saturdays with a full staff of employees. It's part of a package of reforms for the agency that included extended expiration dates on licenses from five to 10 years, making license tag renewal stickers available at county treasurers' offices and allowing people to pay their driver's license reinstatement fees online. David Sanders, 49, said it was worth driving 15 minutes from Columbia to Irmo for Saturday service. "It's the only time I can get to do it," the Office Max employee said. "I used to have to take time off work." Sanders usually waits as long as possible to get his license renewed, but he said the new Saturday hours allowed him to get it done with two days to spare. Department employees seemed as relaxed as customers on Saturday, spokeswoman Beth Parks said. "We prepared for a lot of people," she said. "And they seemed pleased we were able to accommodate them." Parks said other state offices were busy too. About 50 people were waiting in line in Rock Hill and there was a good crowd in the Greenville office, she said. In Aiken, officials were expecting more than 100 customers Saturday, said manager Sandra Sumpter, who usually works in the Orangeburg office. Sumpter said she empathizes with customers who say their lunch break "doesn't cut it" when it comes to getting errands done during the work week. And though the office's computer system has had some problems, customers haven't complained. "I guess nobody is in a rush on Saturday," she said. Parks said the department may open additional offices on Saturday if necessary. The six offices will continue to be open on Saturdays except on July 5 and Aug. 30 because of nearby holidays.

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