Montana's Motor Vehicle Division offices will remain open, but driving tests will be suspended for a month and crowds will be limited in waiting areas, officials said Tuesday.
Attorney General Tim Fox and MVD Administrator Sarah Garcia announced several changes coming to MVD offices in response the novel coronavirus. Steps include a governor's executive order to extend the renewal deadline for expiring driver licenses, suspension of driving tests, additional cleaning of offices and limiting the number of customers allowed in waiting areas. The Helena office will also temporarily relocate.
“The COVID-19 virus is obviously changing daily life around the world and Montana is no exception,” Fox said. “Businesses and governments must adapt in order to help limit the spread of the disease, but at the same time we must do all we can to continue providing the services that we all need.”
An executive order extending expired driver license renewals for 90 days was signed Tuesday, Gov. Steve Bullock said during a media call. The extension applies to licenses that expire in March, April or May.
Fox cautioned that the renewal did not protect Montanans from citations in other states for driving with an expired license.
“The goal is to limit the need for visits to MVD stations during the COVID-19 outbreak,” Fox said. “This safeguards the health of the public and of MVD employees by reducing person-to-person contact and allowing Montanans to focus on other important matters until this situation subsides.”
TSA issued a statement, Fox said, indicating that travelers with expired state driver licenses or ID cards may still use them for a year to fly.
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