May. 19, 2021
HARRISBURG – Rep. Jim Struzzi (R-Indiana) today announced his support of legislation that would restore the full array of driver and vehicle services to rural communities like Indiana.
“Since the pandemic began, rural areas like ours have been hit harder than most. PennDOT services being severely limited is the latest battle we are fighting. It is a significant hindrance for people in our area to have to drive out of the county for many of the services PennDOT is supposed to provide at its facilities,” said Struzzi. “Citizens living in rural areas should not be shortchanged when it comes to state services supported by their tax dollars.”
Struzzi noted there are 20 communities across rural Pennsylvania that are served by PennDOT staff who travel to the locations only once or twice a week to offer certain types of services, such as driving tests. While the centers have been open for driver license photos, many services remain unavailable to rural residents without the inconvenience of traveling a long distance.
The proposed legislation, known as the Rural Access to PennDOT Services Act, would require PennDOT to reopen Driver License Center sites to the operational level they were prior to the pandemic within two weeks of enactment.
“My district offices have been hearing from constituents of the 62nd District regularly over the last year expressing frustrations that they are unable to access the services they need. We have had many conversations with PennDOT officials on the need to restore services, but nothing has changed. I am hopeful the introduction of this legislation will prompt the administration to work in earnest to fully reopen these facilities quickly. Otherwise, we need to wait for the legislation to go through the full legislative process,” concluded Struzzi.
Representative Jim Struzzi
62nd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Scott Little
717.260.6137 (office), 717.497.5937 (cell)
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