The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office unveiled a new DMV “flagship center” location in the Loop on Tuesday. Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said the center aims to combat the notion of drivers and motor vehicles facilities being synonymous with “bureaucratic black holes, long lines and infinite wait times.” “There’s nothing more frustrating than having to take time out of your day, time off work or away from your kids or other important responsibilities to spend your entire day at the DMV,” Giannoulias said during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new facility. The facility, located at 125 W. Monroe St., offers single-counter driver and vehicle services, a self-service kiosk for residents to renew their driver’s licenses or vehicle registration,
and other services such as administrative hearings, reinstatements and business services.
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The facility offers both walk-in and appointment services from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The DMV facility, at 24,000 square feet, is nearly five times the size of the office’s former Chicago Central DMV at 160 N. LaSalle St., which closed Friday and often experienced long lines and wait times because of its small size, according to a news release. Giannoulias spoke about seeing long lines while driving on his way to work at the former DMV location. “I hated seeing people in the freezing cold or in the rain waiting outside or in the middle of the summer when people are there with their kids, and they’re sweating and they’re suffering,” Giannoulias said. “Now, they have a place where there’s a little more space.” Giannoulias said he plans to hold regular office hours at the new facility to provide residents with an opportunity to chat and give feedback on their experience with the office. Last month, the Secretary of State’s Office opened another facility downtown
just for Real ID services to meet demand ahead of the May 7 federal enforcement date.
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