Rutherford calls for technology upgrade

Driver's license facilities could improve service

By: John R. Pulliam

June 07, 2006

The Register-Mail

GALESBURG - Republican secretary of state candidate Dan Rutherford put the focus on more experience for young drivers, as well as using technology to improve service at the state's driver's license offices during a visit to Galesburg Tuesday evening.

State Sen. Rutherford, R-Pontiac, was in town for a fund-raiser at Best Western Prairie Inn. Rutherford is attempting to unseat incumbent Democrat Jesse White in November.

Rutherford is the co-sponsor of HB 4768, which has passed both houses of the General Assembly, and is now awaiting the signature of Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Under the law, student drivers would be required to get 50 hours of driving experience with their parents present, twice the amount now mandated. The new law also would require 10 of those hours to be at night.

"Give them some real-life experience on gravel roads, driving at night, with parents," Rutherford said, explaining some of the goals of the legislation as he talked with reporters in the lobby of the Prairie Inn.

In addition, 16- and 17-year-old drivers would not be allowed to drive while talking on a cell phone and the car would be restricted to one front-seat passenger.

According to the Illinois State Police, crashes are the leading cause of injury-related deaths for teenagers. Nationally, six individuals a day between the ages of 15 and 20 die in traffic accidents.

"So what we're trying to do is put together a grouping of needs to try to help prevent some of these unfortunate situations," Rutherford said, adding that, "with all respect," Secretary of State White has been supportive of the proposed changes.

Where Rutherford feels his and White's paths diverge is in the area of public service.

Rutherford said the typical situation is to go to the driver's license office and "take a number and you sit in a cold plastic chair and sometimes it's hours before you get service."

With 20 years' experience in the corporate arm of the ServiceMaster Company, Rutherford feels he is uniquely qualified to change the office to offer quicker, more efficient service. In explaining why, he took a bit of a jab at White's time with the Jesse White Tumblers.

"I've been 20 years in the private sector," Rutherford said. "That's what we do, is serve people. My point is, I don't have a tumbling team, but I have 20 years' experience in the service sector."

According to Rutherford, residents of California can use the Internet to set up an appointment before going to the Department of Motor Vehicles. He said the same thing can be done by phone in Wisconsin.

"I will bring technology this office is so lacking," he said, stopping between answers to greet guests arriving for the fund-raiser.

Rutherford said some older people, such as his grandmother, will never use the Internet, but making it available to others "will relieve the pressure on the traditional means of service so the grandmas of the world will have a better experience."

One of Rutherford's harshest criticisms targeted both White and Blagojevich for failing to get renewal stickers out to nearly 200,000 Illinoisans whose license plate stickers were about to expire. Rutherford said the penalty motorists who fail to renew their stickers on time have to pay has brought in almost $4 million since the law went into effect Jan. 1. Rutherford said White's office says, "their mail system is not compatible with the Postal Service."

Rutherford said his address used to be Rural Route 4, Chenoa, but now he has a street number address. Rural addresses have been changed over the years because of 911 and E-911 emergency response systems. Rutherford isn't buying it.

"The Internal Revenue Service never loses you when they want to reach you," he said. "Your credit card company never loses you and the Land's End catalogue still shows up in your mail box."

Asked if he were suggesting the penalties have been an intentional effort by White and Blagojevich to gain a windfall for the state, Rutherford, a small smile tugging at the sides of his mouth, said, "I would never say that. But the state made $4 million off of it."

Dan Rutherford