Outstate driver's exam stations decrease service to once a month

Rock County residents in need of a driver’s test will have fewer options beginning today, Sept. 1.
Instead of weekly appointments on Wednesdays, the driver’s exam station in Luverne is now open once a month.
For Rock County, both written and behind-the-wheel examinations are offered the second Wednesday of the month.
State officials cite on-going staff shortages, which began in the pandemic, for the driver’s exam station schedule changes.
In March 2020 all exam stations closed due to the pandemic. Months later only regional hubs were open. Worthington is the local regional hub.
Legislators directed the state Department of Public Safety to reopen all 93 exam stations by Jan. 31. Rock County’s weekly service was reinstated Jan. 26.
“I find it really hard to believe we can’t get our arms around that issue,” said state Senator Bill Weber, Luverne.
Weber recently talked with John Harrington, the state’s commissioner of public safety. Harrington was appointed to the position in 2019.
Other than staff shortages, Harrington hasn’t responded specifically to Weber as to why local driver’s examination station service hours are again being cut.
Weber said legislators cannot re-address the issue as a group until the next session starts in January 2023.
Under the new schedule, exams won’t be available in Rock County again until Sept. 14.
Appointments for driver’s tests can be made only online at drive.mn.gov.
New hours will also be implemented today.
Worthington, the local area’s regional hub, will be open for written tests from 8 to 11 a.m. and 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays.
Thursdays and Fridays are reserved for road tests by appointment only.
The Wednesday schedule is as follows:
•Windom, first Wednesday of the month.
•Luverne, second Wednesday of the month.
•Pipestone, third Wednesday of the month.
•Slayton, fourth Wednesday of the month.
DPS hasn’t released a specific time schedule for the new once-a-month service.