Tennessee Wins Digital Government Achievement Award for Driver Service Center iPads

NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security announced Monday that Tennessee has earned a Digital Government Achievement Award for use of Apple iPad technology in its state driver service centers. The iPads are located inside certain centers to help improve wait times for customers who need to renew or replace driver licenses.

The Center for Digital Government issues the Digital Government Achievement Awards for outstanding state and local agency and department websites and applications. Fifty-six awards in eight categories were given this year. Tennessee’s iPad project was honored in the Government-to-citizen State government category.

“We are honored to earn this award, but it is the satisfaction of our customers, the citizens of Tennessee, that matters most. Our customers have reacted very positively to this technology. Thousands of citizens have used these new tools to easily and quickly renew their driver licenses,” Commissioner Bill Gibbons said.

The department installed 72 iPad kiosks last June inside 26 driver service centers across Tennessee. Customers who visit specified driver service centers to simply renew or replace a lost driver license may use a special application installed on the iPads to quickly complete and pay for the transaction using a credit or debit card. Customers normally receive the new driver license within minutes of the transaction. Other services are also available by using the iPads, including the ability to change addresses on existing driver licenses and process reinstatement payments. In the near future, customers will be able to use the iPads to schedule road test appointments.

The department also encourages citizens to renew driver licenses online at www.tn.gov.

The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory organization providing information technology policies and best-practices guidelines for state and local governments. The awards program is in its 17th year.

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s (www.TN.Gov/safety) mission is to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.