Have you let a car registration or a drivers license lapse because you heard Texas had extended its grace period due to COVID-19? You'd be partly right about that.
However, drivers still owe that money, and if they want to get current, we have to, in some cases, face the so-called "COVID backlog" to get it done.
When coronavirus started becoming a problem, Governor Abbott issued an emergency order closing Texas state offices. It also suspended expirations for car registrations and drivers licenses.
But here’s what you might not know, drivers still have to pay for it. More and more Texans have found that out and made it to state and county offices to pay up.
COVID pandemic or not, Jennifer Heinz never puts off until tomorrow what she can do today. She came to the McLennan County building to get a new handicap sticker.
"No, I didn't have to but I try to get things done early, ahead of time," she said.
Since re-opening, McLennan Tax Collector Randy Riggs says he's seen business pick back up to almost normal.
”We're seeing between 500 to 700 people a day. We're seeing quite a bit of business coming in," he said.
But if you need a birth certificate, you'll also need an appointment as county vital records controls its interaction with the public.
"Our office is now accepting appointments, so it's by appointment only, or they can find an application on our website," said Teresa Howell, Vital Statistics Registrar at the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District.
She says appointments right now are booked up a week in advance.
When Texas temporarily stopped issuing drivers licenses, it created a backlog that persists even now. Some places have appointments fully booked weeks out. That worries Texas newcomers who fear they might not be allowed to register to vote.
”You can use the last four of your social security to register to vote. It's either the drivers license or that option,” said Kathy VanWolfe, McLennan County Elections Administrator.
Back at the tax collector's office, we learn while the governor gave us breathing room to pay car registrations and other fees, it comes with strings attached.
”As long as it's current. If it's gone beyond that time, then you have to come in and get it done and paid," explained Riggs.
No online, no mail. It's why Jennifer Heinz came early to get that sticker she needed.
”I think if people know that, they'll definitely come in sooner. That's a good thing to know,” she said.
