Bonny Oaks Services Center to handle license reinstatement

photo Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commisioner Bill Gibbons, right, talks to state Sen. Bo Watson after a news conference announcing that driver license reinstatement services will now be offered in Hamilton County at its Bonny Oaks Driver Services Center in Chattanooga.

Hamilton County residents who need to reinstate their licenses no longer have to travel out of town.

On Nov. 15, the state shuttered its Chattanooga Driver's License Reinstatement Center because of low use. But the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security announced Tuesday that residents can visit the Bonny Oaks Driver Services Center at 6501 Bonny Oaks Drive to have their licenses reinstated.

The Chattanooga center had only 4,426 reinstatements from January to September. That number was dwarfed by numbers at Bonny Oaks and Red Bank locations, which served more than 40,000 residents combined. The state also paid more than $73,000 to keep the Chattanooga center opened and running.

The Bonny Oaks center already licenses new drivers, renews licenses, performs driving tests and issues firearm licenses. But now people who need to have licenses reinstateed that they've previously lost -- which takes more time -- can go there, too.

Residents who need to reinstate their licenses can pay fees online at apps.tn.gov/tndlr. After that they can email my.dl@tn.gov or fax confirmation paperwork to 615-253-2093.

Only after the confirmation paperwork is complete can residents visit a center to have their license reinstated.

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