It’s been more than four years since the Russell County Circuit Clerk’s Office ceased issuing driver’s licenses as part of a statewide initiative to move licensing to regional offices.
That move to regional offices has caused issues for people across the commonwealth, with citizens raising issues about long lines and wait times, as well as the distance people have to travel to get to a regional office.
There has recently been some momentum to close the regional offices and return driver’s licensing to the circuit clerk’s office. A bill that would return licensing to circuit clerks is expected to be filed in Frankfort during the upcoming legislative session.
Russell County Circuit Clerk Tony Kerr said he would welcome the return of driver’s licensing to circuit clerks if such a bill passed, but only if more staff was added to the office to serve the public.
Driver’s licenses were moved out of the circuit clerk offices by way of House Bill 453, which was passed during the 2020 legislative session.
