The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles installed a new web-based appointment scheduling system in Lee and Charlotte counties this month. Amy Tardif has more.
The Internet program allows people to set appointments for the DMV’s tests and services. It gives them an alternative to waiting in long lines. The DMV’s Frank Penela says it was about time.

“I think the nature of the beast of highway safety and getting your license in the past has been one of negativity. When you think about the wors- case scenarios there was anecdotal evidence of people standing in line several hours. That made us think – what really can we do about this? We need to alleviate this issue.”

The DMV chose to pilot the program in Cape Coral because of complaints about long waits and jammed phone lines. The Online Appointment Services and Information System or OASIS comes from the department of homeland security’s citizen and immigration services, whose nationwide appointment system reduced lines for its customers. And Florida is giving back to homeland security – it has new driver’s licenses with 15 different safety features.

“That make it one of the most secure licenses in the nation. As a matter of fact it’s being patterned everywhere else. We sort of set the standard. What this new drivers license does is make it more difficult for counterfeiters or for someone to copy a drivers license for example.”

On line services to renew driver licenses, motor vehicle registrations, disabled parking permits and to change an address are at go renew dot com. The OASIS on line appointment service will be available statewide by the end of spring. Terminals will be set up in city halls, libraries and DMV offices for people who don’t have computer access at home.