SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The Department of Transportation's new driver and vehicle licensing fees came into effect on May 1, as did upgraded services for the public at its Yellowknife motor vehicle office.
Earl Blacklock: Says office closure was necessary in order to provide training to agents. |
Increases to the cost of written and practical examinations are going up by around $10 but it is now significantly more expensive to reinstate one's suspended driver's licence as a result of demerit point accumulation.
Michael Conway, registrar of motor vehicles with the department, said a fees review was conducted in the past year, resulting in inflationary adjustments for driver and vehicle licensing services.
The service changes at the licensing office were implemented following a two-day training workshop, attended by issuing agents from all over the territory.
"When we have to make changes to our processes we need to get all of our agents in the same place," said Earl Blacklock, the department's manager of public affairs and communications.
"We have to provide training to ensure our client services are up to speed. The alternative would be to do (training) as the changes come up but what ends up happening is that people have to wait while our agent is learning it."
The department also had to provide training for the upcoming NWT Alcohol Ignition Interlock Program, which will be piloted in Hay River and Yellowknife in the next two to five months.
The program allows persons convicted of impaired driving to apply for an early lifting of their driving prohibition.
Conway said continuous improvement is a key objective of the department in providing services to the people of the NWT.
"This training addressed upgrades to the motor vehicle information system as well as opportunities to decrease red tape and to further improve services for the public," he said.
Another new service was the creation of an estimated wait time web page on the department's website.
"Estimated waiting time reflects the estimated waiting time that a client who enters the licensing Office at this moment can expect before being served," the website reads. The average waiting time in the last 30 days was just over 28 minutes.
As a result of the training, the office located in the Laing Building on 49 Street was closed for two days. Blacklock said the public was notified via a sign on the door, as well as on the department's website.
Driver fee increases
- Written examination Class 1: to $56 from $45.15
- Written examination Class 2, 3 or 4: to $49 from $39.90
- Written examination Class 5, 6 or 7: to $42 from $34.65
- Practical examination Class 1: to $56 from $45.15
- Practical examination Class 2, 3 or 4: to $49 from $39.90
- Practical examination Class 5, 6 or 7: to $42 from $34.65
- Reinstatement of driver's licence suspended as a result of accumulation of demerit points: to $149 from $117.60
- Reinstatement of driver's licence suspended as a result of DUI: to $250 from $222.60
- 5-year term driver's licence: to $98 from $87.60
- 3-year term driver's licence: to $75 from $67.60
Source: Department of Transportation website
