Driver Services requests funding for commercial-driver notifications, security and staff as digital license use grows

Department of Driver Services Commissioner Angelique McClendon told the committee that Georgia has about 9.1 million valid driver records, including roughly 400,000 commercial drivers, and that digital driver's-license adoption has surpassed 600,000 users.

For FY27, DDS requested $150,000 to implement commercial-driver federal-mandate notifications, $159,000 to cover lease increases at nine locations, $150,000 to continue armed-guard services at five high-volume sites and about $2.3 million in personal services funding tied to decreased turnover and resulting step increases. Commissioner McClendon said armed guards are in place at Lithonia, Decatur, Norcross, Atlanta and Savannah. She clarified the contracted armed guards are not post-certified law-enforcement officers; statute allows up to 30 post-certified officers but DDS is currently funded for 12.

The department said it served roughly 4.1 million customers last year across in-person, kiosk and online channels and has 68 customer-service locations and 12 CDL testing sites. McClendon described background and credit checks for staff with access to confidential records and said the department monitors employee access to records to detect misuse.

Committee members asked for contact details and confirmation of locations; McClendon said the department has provided legislators with contact information and would share details as requested.

What's next: The committee heard the presentation and followed with questions; the department offered to supply further details offline.