DDS adds new kiosks to shorten wait times

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Georgia Department of Driver Services is testing out new technology designed to cut down your wait time.

New check-in kiosks have been added at the department’s locations in Conyers, Forest Park, Gainesville and Sandy Springs.

Many people are used to seeing a familiar scene when they enter the DDS. Hours of waiting and long lines stretching out the door at locations across metro Atlanta became commonplace to many people in need of their services.

But Wednesday, at the Sandy Springs location on Roswell Road, Channel 2’s Kerry Kavanaugh found something else: new check-in kiosks to help lines move more quickly.

Customers told Kavanaugh they were pleasantly surprised by the new addition.

"Traditionally you would come in and stand in a line to be issued a ticket for service and then you would complete an application and then you would wait,” says Brett Young with the department.

Young says new check-in kiosks should help cut down the line just to get in line.

The department is testing them out at facilities in Sandy Springs, Forest Park, Conyers and Gainesville. They'll add them to Decatur, Lawrenceville, Norcross, Lithonia and Savannah in 2015.

"It's just a click away -- you get a number and you’re all set,” said customer Giovanni Mendez.

Mendez says the process to get his first license wasn't much of a process at all.

"I've come here before and it took a whole lot for them to get organized up front. But not with this thing,” Mendez said.

"We can service more customers faster with fewer people,” Young said.

The DDS greeters are still there to assist at the kiosk.  They will float through the crowd ensuring customers have the right paperwork and documentation.

"It's a lot faster than it used to be,” said customer Sue Moore.

"It's definitely been really smooth. I've been here for 10 minutes and I feel like I’ll be out of here in a half an hour,” said customer Erin Parcells.

You can fill out paperwork online, before you arrive. Soon, DDS says, you'll be able to make a reservation online. Customers who arrive with an appointment will have their own queue.

WSBTV