License plate agency moving
By Matthew Whittle
Published in News on October 30, 2013 1:46 PM
The lines may not be much shorter, but beginning Friday, people headed to the Goldsboro License Plate Agency will likely be less crowded and more comfortable as they wait.
The agency, currently located at 511 N. William St., will close Thursday as it moves to its new location at 1801 E. Ash St., in the Wayne Plaza shopping center -- in the old Heritage Bank building down from Food Lion.
It will reopen on Friday, with its regular business hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Goldsboro License Plate Agency has been at its William Street location for 13 years, said contract agent Annalee Griffin.
Mrs. Griffin took over the agency in January 1997 -- the same time it went to a computerized system.
With the exception of all but a very small few, license plate agencies in North Carolina are contracted by the state Department of Transportation to a private individual. The state provides the tags, the forms and the computers. The individual provides the employees and the location.
"The state pays us for every completed transaction," Mrs. Griffin said.
But, she said, things have become increasingly more complicated for the agency as the state has continued to change and update its responsibilities.
"It's been building up," she said. "It's gotten more complex."
Not often, she said, do they have people come in just for simple tag renewals. Most people have some sort of issue with inspections not being done, insurance having lapsed or taxes not being paid. They also often have people coming in to do title transfers.
"There's a lot that people, sooner or later, will come to see us about," Mrs. Griffin said.
Adding to that complexity -- and the amount of time a transaction takes -- is state's requirement vehicle taxes be paid at the time of renewal.
So while she's not planning to increase the number of employees -- 5 -- for the time being, she did say that the time had come to move.
"Right now, what we most need is more room," she said.
Plus, she said, the new facility -- 700 square feet bigger -- has the added benefit of coming ready to use with the bank's former teller windows and counter already in place.
"They (DOT) have come in and approved the new site. They did all the wiring and everything," Mrs. Griffin said. On Thursday, they just have to move the computers and other equipment -- that's why we're closed. We'll move the furniture.
"The building is ready and we'll be open Friday."
The Goldsboro License Plate Agency is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on all state holidays.