LOVELAND ― Gov. Bill Ritter cut the ribbon on Colorado's newest driver's license office today, celebrating the grand opening in Loveland with state Sen. Steve Johnson, Department of Revenue Executive Director Roxy Huber and members of the public.
The Loveland driver's license office is the first of three new offices that will open in the coming weeks, thanks to legislation adopted and signed into law by lawmakers and Gov. Ritter last year. The other offices will be in Golden and northeast Denver near Adams County.
"This is a big step forward in terms of improving service to Colorado residents," Gov. Ritter said. "We've all heard or personally felt the frustration of long lines and long wait times at driver's license offices around the state, and since government should be a customer-oriented operation, opening these new offices will begin to restore much-needed services to the customers of Colorado. I'm pleased we are able to make this a reality."
The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles closed its office in Loveland on Dec. 27, 2002, during a budget crisis that led officials to close 25 driver's license offices across the state.
In its final year of operation, the Loveland driver's license office processed 23,458 driver's licenses and identification cards for Colorado citizens. When the Loveland office closed, those customers were sent to other offices in other communities.
In 2007, Gov. Ritter and state lawmakers approved Senate Bill 07-241, which provides funding to re-open three offices and add 53 workers in offices throughout the state.
"We have already launched a program to allow for the online renewal of driver's licenses," Department of Revenue Executive Director Huber said. "And we will continue to invest in better technology to improve our efficiency."
