DPS Server Issue Causes Problems For Already Backlogged Appointments

Operations at the Department of Public Safety (DPS) were recently brought to a halt. A server issue stopped the ability for the department to issue driver license’s and state ID cards. 

A challenging dilemma, when appointments are booked out two months in advance of people needing to visit the office. 

The issue was first reported Monday afternoon. 

“I would not have dreamed that I would have to schedule an appointment two, two and a half months ago,” said Moore substitute bus driver, Debbie Stovall. 

Tuesday mark’s the second day Stovall has driven to Ada from Moore, nearly an hour and 20 minutes, trying to renew her Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). 

The process has frustrated her. She said she’s contemplated giving up renewing her CDL. 

“A lot of the DPS (locations) in the metro areas are not taking walk-ins or some of them are only taking 10 walk-ins per day,” said Stovall. “Lots of people in the city are getting up really early to camp out for those spots.” 

Bus drivers cannot renew CDL’s online. 

A waiver has given Stovall until February 28 to get it done, but with the earliest appointment at DPS on March 12, a walk in is her only hope. 

“There is a shortage of bus drivers and this process makes that really bad,” said Stovall. 

The recent outage, according to DPS, is blamed on a failed connection to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA). The server stays connected thanks to service from Verizon and AT&T. 

DPS said the outage was out of the department’s control. 

COVID-19 and a loss of 28 positions due to budget cuts by legislators is what DPS said has led up to a backlog of appointments. 

“Our best advice to people is that new appointments come online every day at 6 p.m. so check it around 6 p.m.,” said Sarah Stewert, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety. “That is when that next day, 60 days out, opens up for appointments.” 

Stovall continues to hold out hope her time is soon. 

“It would be nice if we could renew them online and that system would work and be efficient to get that done within at least 30 days of your expiration date,” said Stovall. 

Be sure you know when your license expires, and right now, plan at least two months ahead of time to get it taken care of. 

The deadline to sign up for a REAL ID is October 1, 2021. 

For folks who missed an appointment Monday afternoon or Tuesday, DPS is working to figure out what to do next. 

The outage was fixed Tuesday afternoon.