More South Dakotans will get to drive with expired licenses, thanks to coronavirus. The Governor’s extension of our state of emergency through December 30 means South Dakotans don’t have to renew driver licenses until next March:
The Governor this week signed an executive order that extends the state’s emergency declaration through Dec. 30, 2020. That means the expiration date for driver licenses is extended through the duration of the emergency declaration plus an additional 90 days or March 30, 2021.
“This is good news for those South Dakotans whose licenses expired on or after March 13, 2020 when the Governor first issued the emergency declaration,” said Department of Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Craig Price. “This means driver license holders now have even more time to renew their licenses.”
The extension covers driver licenses, motorcycle operator licenses, restricted minor’s permits, motorcycle restricted minor’s permits, non-driver identification cards, commercial driver’s licenses or commercial learner’s permits [“Driver License Expiration Dates Extended Again in South Dakota,” KOTA-TV, 2020.05.28].
Of course, you still need to have a license on you, expired or not, when you’re behind the wheel. And new drivers still need to get a license before getting behind the wheel. The exam stations are taking new applicants by appointment; the state is asking the rest of us to renew online or just wait until the emergency is over.