I went and got my driver’s license after not having one for a couple years. It had been long enough I had to take my permit test. The first trip there just to get my permit, I got there first thing in the morning. I left at 2:00 PM.
You used to be able to walk into a local driver’s license office and usually be out in under an hour.
In a recent article, Harrison County Judge Executive Jason Marshall has publicly called out what myself and many Kentuckians have been whispering about for months: the state’s Regional Driver’s Licensing Program is failing rural communities.
In a sharply worded letter addressed to Governor Andy Beshear, Judge Marshall criticized the ongoing implementation of the centralized licensing system, citing widespread frustration, missed work, travel burdens, long wait times, and online scheduling chaos.
“These issues are not isolated — they are widespread,” Marshall wrote. “They are directly impacting the livelihoods of Kentuckians.”
The state’s decision to reduce 120 local offices to just 30 regional hubs was marketed as a cost-saving efficiency measure. But according to Marshall, the result has been anything but efficient — especially for rural residents in Harrison County and surrounding areas.
He urged Governor Beshear to support House Bill 518, which would return driver’s license services to local Circuit Clerk’s offices, restoring accessibility for those most affected.
The judge also extended an invitation to the Governor’s Office to host a public forum, where citizens could share their firsthand struggles with the new system.
As Kentucky’s administrative streamlining continues to draw scrutiny, Marshall’s letter may signal the beginning of broader pushback — especially from counties tired of watching local access vanish in the name of state reform.
“The real-world impact has been anything but positive.”
We would like to call on Pendleton County Judge Executive Dave Fields to also write his own letter. Judge Fields, your residents are dealing with these same burdens. Missed paychecks, long lines, unreliable systems, and being forced to travel for something that used to be handled just down the road. We encourage you to step forward and put your name beside Judge Marshall’s in asking the Governor to do better. Stand with your people. They’re tired, and they’re losing time and money they can’t spare.
There are times you have to go and handle things that take away from your day — but they should not have to be this difficult. This system was supposed to make things easier. Instead, it’s created more red tape, more lost hours, more unnecessary stress.
Please leave your thoughts, ideas, and experiences about the regional driver’s license offices in the comments. We want to hear from you. You shouldn’t need to take a whole day off work, burn gas, and stand in a five-hour line just to drive legally.
Whisper One Out