State Rep. Brad Paquette announced Thursday that Berrien County residents will now be able to make appointments at all Secretary of State (SOS) offices, a move that he hopes will reduce wait times.

In an email to state representatives Thursday, the Michigan Department of State said the measure is part of the greater effort to improve efficiency at SOS branches across Michigan.

Previously, Berrien County residents were not able to schedule appointments with the SOS.

“There’s nothing quite like the frustration that comes with waiting in an extremely long line at the Secretary of State’s office. This is a step in the right direction but there’s still more to be done to make things more efficient,” said Paquette, of Niles. “I hope Secretary Benson will continue to reinstate measures put into place by the prior administration.”

Paquette said he hears from constituents regularly who are fed up with the wait time at the Secretary of State office and encourages residents to take advantage of the appointment program to help cut down on lines and reduce frustrations.

“It’s an opportunity to eliminate a lot of headaches when it comes to the mundane process of renewing a driver’s license or transferring a vehicle title,” Paquette said. “I encourage everyone to give it a try and make an appointment next time they need to head to the SOS.”

Residents can log on to Michigan.gov/SOSAppointments or dial 888-SOS-MICH to make an appointment.

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