The proposed changes come after complaints to the governor about long lines, rude employees and lack of appointment times.
OKLAHOMA CITY -
The new policies at Department of Public Safety may
have some people out of jobs and could even change the way Oklahomans are
issued a driver's license.
The proposed changes come after complaints to the
governor about long lines, rude employees and lack of appointment times. The
owners of drivers' license schools fear they are going to have to lay
instructors off, revamp their businesses, and cancel appointments that took
months to make.
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Training
The DPS says it is trying to give people who can't
afford private instruction the same treatment of those that can. On most
weekday mornings, lines wrap around the corner at DPS. Until now, if you've
attended an accredited driving school you can skip the line.
"They are paying for us to drive with them before the
test and to work with them. They have it scheduled it six months in advance and
I have to make that horrible phone call to my customers and that I am not
looking forward to," said Duane Brown of Brown's Driving School.
A spokesperson with the Department of Public Safety
said, "We are making changes to improve the system overall. We just want
to come up with a system that is fair for everybody, both the haves and the
have-nots."
8/23/12
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In the meantime, Brown is calling students who paid
for the service to tell them they have lost their appointments (after
Monday). Starting November 1, they may be able to test at the driving safety
schools.
DPS and the driving schools are meeting Friday, August
24, to talk about the proposed changes.