Driver’s licensing office opens in Prestonsburg

By TONY FYFFE
BSN Editor

PRESTONSBURG — Residents of Lawrence, Johnson, Floyd and Martin counties now have a place close to home that will take care of their driver’s license needs. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet opened a regional driver’s licensing office in Prestonsburg Thursday, bringing to eight the number of such facilities in the state. Prior to the opening of the Prestonsburg office, the closest regional office for residents of the Big Sandy region was in Morehead. “With the new office in Prestonsburg, we are expanding an important customer service,” Transportation Secretary Jim Gray said in a press release. “But we are doing so in a way that protects the health and safety of our customers and our employees. That includes social distancing, wearing face masks and having a sanitized work station for every customer.” Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person services will be limited at the Prestonsburg office, which is located at 3140 South Lake Drive, Suite 5. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Services offered at this time include:
• Replacement of a lost license, permit or identification card.
• Issuance of a license or ID card needed for employment.
• Issuance of a REAL ID or standard license for a new resident replacing a valid out-of-state credential.
• Issuance of REAL ID or standard licenses for new applicants who have successfully completed Kentucky State Police driver testing.
• Renewal of a credential (or issuance of a REAL ID) with expiration dates of March 18 to July 6, 2020, which were automatically extended for 90 days by emergency order.
• Issuance of a REAL ID for any resident.
In announcing the opening of the Prestonsburg location, Gov. Andy Beshear still encouraged residents who can renew or replace credentials by mail or drop-off to do so. Those whose licenses, permits or ID cards were lost or expired – or will expire – any time from March 1 through Sept. 30, 2020 and who do not require testing may apply for renewal or replacement remotely through the circuit court clerk in their county of residence. Residents can check with the clerk as to preferred method, such as drop-off form or mail-in form. The forms can be downloaded at https://kycourts.gov/Pages/DLreopeningplan.asp.
Qualifying applicants may make appointments online at drive.ky.gov. A limited number of workstations will be available to serve walk-ins. To avoid gatherings in common waiting areas after checking in, applicants may be asked to wait in their vehicles and will be individually notified when to return to the issuance office to be served.