(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Starting Wednesday, the Illinois Secretary of State’s office will begin taking appointments for teens only to get driver's licenses and permits at specific locations.
Alexi Giannoulias says his office is opening up a dozen locations on Saturdays this summer to process licenses and learning permits for new drivers.
The program is a first for the state and comes after his office made similar special hours for senior citizens last fall. They are the two groups that require road tests - something that Giannoulias says is time-consuming.
The special teen hours start June 1 and run through the end of August.
Giannoulias says his office will make an extra 1,000 appointments available each week to handle the 9,000 permit holders who are eligible to be licensed this summer.
““It's all based on data, we looked at where the highest number, the largest foot traffic is during the year and we found facilities that were not open on Saturdays,” Giannoulias explained how they decided which locations would hold the special teen hours.
The agency is offering teen hours at locations in Addison, Aurora, Bethalto, Belvidere, Bridgeview, Chicago West, Des Plaines, Elgin, Joliet, Lake Zurich, Plano and St. Charles.
The office is scheduling these special appointments by phone only. Parents or teens can call 800-252-8980 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. to schedule an appointment.
Older drivers can visit 15 other DMV locations that are open on Saturdays.
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