Tuesday Brings Long Lines At DDS In Between

After being closed on a Monday, Tuesday is always a busy day at the Department of Drivers Services in Monroe I'm told.
Today I found out for myself it is indeed so. I forgot to renew my drivers license on my birthday and only realized it this weekend.

My intention was to be at the DDS first thing Monday morning, except of course - Monday it is closed. I was warned that Tuesday was a busy day, but I really needed to get my license renewed so I didn't have many options. I made it there by 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, and made it out by 1:15 p.m.
During my time there, I learned a few things I thought worth passing on.

1. Check the date on your license the first day of the month of your birthday - every year - just to be sure. The years add up quickly and before you know it, that renewal comes around again.
2. Get to the DDS on Highway 78 in Between early in the morning - and don't try and go on a Monday. It is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and from 8 a.m. to noon on a Saturday. It is closed Sunday and Monday.
3. After producing all the documents that you have to this time around, you get a gold star and you will be able to renew on the Internet in future. That is, unless you are 59 or over at that time. If you are over 59, you have to go in and have your eyes tested every five years.
4. It is $20 to renew for five years and $32 for eight - that is unless, of course, you are 59. You then can only renew for five years because you will need to have that eye test.
5. If you plan on going on a Tuesday, make sure you take a good book to read or a computer to work on. Some quarters for the vending machine won't hurt either since you are more than likely to have at least a two hour wait.
6. Before heading out to renew your license, review all the information on the DDS website - especially what documentation you will need. It will save you having to go home to get a second form of identification or your Social Security Card.
7. And last but not least, I learned today that 59 is the magic number. After that, it's downhill all the way!