FREE VOLUME 25 NUMBER 4
APRIL 26, 2019 Stay connected
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Published Since April 1995
Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties
Georgia’s new “DRIVES” tag system gets underway DeKalb tag offices closed May 23-28 for overhaul Rockdale closed May 21-27 The Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) is installing a new state-of-theart system, Georgia DRIVES, to modernize the vehicle registration and titling system. The new Georgia DRIVES system will enable more self-service options, improve customer service, and enhance data integrity. In preparation for the statewide system upgrade, DeKalb County Motor Vehicle services will be offline and unavailable for a brief period. Implementation of the new system will require the vehicle registrations and titling services to be unavailable May 23–28. To accommodate for the closure, the Motor Vehicle and Commercial/Dealer lobbies will be open to the public on Saturdays, May 4 and May 18, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Customers are encouraged to complete all vehicle registrations and titling in advance of expiration dates and prior to the system upgrade timing. “We are excited to partner with the Department of Revenue on the Georgia DRIVES project, which will improve our office efficiencies when handling vehicle registrations. It is important for vehicle owners and businesses to be aware of the upcoming schedule changes leading up to the Memorial Day launch of the project,” Irvin
DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson
What to expect in DeKalb Tag Offices: May 23–28 • All three Tag Offices will not be able to process transactions. • All online motor vehiclerelated services including, online tag renewal services, will be offline. • Motor vehicle self-service kiosks will be offline and inoperable. • Motor vehicle division will only be able to process Trip Permit transactions at the DOR Southmeadow facility. All other transactions including International Fuel Tax Agreements (IFTA) and International Registration Plans (IRP) will be unavailable. How will this impact Georgia customers and drivers?
• All Georgia residents who need to renew their vehicle registration in May and June are asked to please renew early, prior to Tuesday, May 21. • Customers and dealers seeking to conduct any title transactions should complete their business at a county tag office prior to Thursday, May 23. • Customers can still purchase vehicles and dealers will still be able to issue Temporary Operating Permits (TOPs). • Law enforcement still will have access to motor vehicle records through a statewide backup file. • The Department of Driver Services will not be affected. For more information on upcoming scheduling changes, visit www.DeKalbTax.org. Rockdale County Residents The Rockdale County Tag Office will have reduced hours on May 21-23 and May 2829. No vehicle registration or title services will be available May 24-27. Rockdale County Tax Commissioner Tisa Smart Washington is urging residents who have May and June birthdays to complete tag renewals and registrations before May 20 to avoid delays. For more information, visit www.georgiadrives.com.
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Ten students hurt in BB gun shooting at Wynbrooke Elementary The DeKalb County School District responded to an active shooter incident on April 25 after 10 students were reportedly shot by a BB or pellet gun while playing on the playground at Wynbrooke Parents said they learned of the incident late Thursday afternoon. Some students said, however, the shooting took place late morning. School officials said the shots appear to have come from a position away from the school grounds. Nine of the students who were shot sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston,
SEE WYNBROOKE page 7
Hepatitis A Outbreak
Fulton launches aggressive initiative to combat increase in cases As a result of an increase in hepatitis A cases in the region, Georgia Department of Public Health officials have declared an official outbreak of hepatitis A in Fulton County. To prevent further spread and reduce potential exposure, the Fulton County Board of Health is offering hepatitis A vaccines to adults with certain risk behaviors such as: • Men who have sex with men (MSM) • Drug users (intravenous and non-intravenous) Other risk factors include: • People who are experiencing unstable housing or homelessness • Individuals who are currently being treated for other infectious diseases such as HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs/STDs) • People with chronic liver disease including cirrhosis, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C • People who are, or were, recently incarcerated • People who work with children in daycare settings These risk behaviors and risk factors place individuals at a greater chance for the disease. The vaccine is offered at all eight Fulton County Board of Health centers. Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable contagious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months.