Haines drivers-to-be will have a chance to take their behind the wheel tests this week—after a long wait.
COVID-19 precautions have delayed and cancelled a list of things so long that it’s almost easier to name the exceptions. Behind the wheel tests for driver’s licenses is not among them. Those ceased when the DMV closed temporarily in March after COVID-19 hit and have not yet resumed.
“This is our first time to Haines to do Class D training,” said Patrick Rose of Northern Industrial Training, a Palmer-based company.
“[That’s] mostly due to the pandemic and some of the backlog training that you’ve had there, with students not being able to get a test done.”
The Haines Borough is paying for one of the company’s trainers to come to Haines for three days this week and administer up to 24 driver’s tests.
The waiting list for these tests in Haines is at least 16 people long, since the local DMV does not yet have a pandemic safe option for administering the tests. The DMV told the community it would send GPS and video equipment for remote tests, but the shipment was repeatedly delayed.
The CARES Act Ad Hoc committee decided the community had been waiting too long. Some families were opting to travel to Juneau for the test, at great expense. At the committee’s recommendation, the assembly allocated up to $15,000 of federal CARES Act money for this purpose. The cost for the October visit is in the range of $7,000.
“Basically, what we’ll do is we’ll show up and the students will be in their vehicles and we’ll do a little check on their vehicle and walk around. And then they’ll actually go on the course, which will be more of a route through Haines to make sure they follow the proper guidelines and laws out there for getting the Class D license. And then once they’re completed, submit their test to the DMV,” said Rose.
Northern Industrial Training will not use remote technology for the tests; the instructor will ride in the car with students. That’s closer contact than the DMV plan, which uses GPS equipment, so that the examiner does not have to share a vehicle with the student driver.
Rose says the company will set down guidelines that follow all state mandates.
“Everybody will be wearing a mask when they’re in the vehicle,” he said.
“And then also before our instructors get in, we’re probably gonna do some cleaning on doors and, you know, touching surfaces and things like that.”
Haines Police Chief Heath Scott was approved by the DMV to proctor the driver’s test. He says he thought he received approval to give behind the wheel tests, but is currently only certified to administer written tests.
The DMV told KHNS the equipment was slated to arrive in Haines last week. DMV has not responded to KHNS’ inquiries to confirm its arrival.
Northern Industrial Training will be in Haines from October 28-30th. To schedule a test call (907) 357-6400.
UPDATE: The DMV main office in Anchorage confirmed remote testing equipment has arrived in Haines, but is not yet functional.
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Haines Borough contracts private company to give road tests - KHNS Radio
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