As of October 2, replacing a lost or stolen driver's licence will become easier, with the implementation of new measures to streamline the process and reduce turnaround time.

Stanley Gordon, efficiency and productivity consultant in the Cabinet Office, told JIS News that following numerous complaints by users of the system, a review of the process was done and a list of recommendations developed.

The aim, he said, was to streamline the various steps to make the process more efficient and less time consuming for persons, who needed to replace their driver's licence.

Long and tedious

"The current procedure is quite long and tedious as your first point of contact would be the police to report the loss. Then it is on to the (tax) collectorate for them to issue a printout to verify that a driver's licence existed, after which you would take the printout or a letter back to the police station. From there, a lost document report is completed."

Continuing to outline the lengthy process that now exists, Mr. Gordon said, "You are then sent to the Island Traffic Authority where they search to see if there are any judicial endorsements or convictions on the existing licence, then they would give you a report that is stamped to take back to the Collectorate, where they would get you to complete the form, pay the fees and then a certificate would be issued."

The revised process will see the elimination of the multiple visits to various agencies. "The improved procedural steps will create a one-stop system, which requires the customer to visit the tax collectorate where investigative work will be carried out by that unit," Mr. Gordon explained.

Less than five days

Under the old system, it could take a week or more to get a replacement. However, with the new process, depending on where the original licence was issued, it could take less than five days. For example, if the original licence was issued at the Constant Spring collectorate and the person goes there to make a report, the records would be there, so it would be easier as the office would not have to telephone or contact another collectorate. The only research that has to be done outside the Collectorate, would be at the Island Traffic Authority on Manhattan Road, Kingston.

Mr. Gordon added that clients would be issued with a provisional driver's licence for five working days and the application process will be simplified.

To apply for the new driver's licence, persons will need to take along their Taxpayer Registration Number, two recent passport sized photographs and some form of identification. They will also be asked to provide some details about the circumstance surrounding the loss of the driver's licence, such as the suspected location, the time, and possible date.