By BRIAN WALKER

Hagadone News Network

Driver's License offices across the state appear to be on the road to recovery.

Offices including those in Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls re-opened Thursday afternoon after computer issues shut them down the previous two days. In Bonner County, the Sandpoint office was closed and will remain so until Tuesday.

Bonner County Sheriff’s Office officials advised on their Facebook page that the Driver’s License office in Sandpoint will be closed Friday but would reopen on Tuesday.

While Idaho Transportation Department officials assured officials that the system would be corrected Thursday, Sandpoint staff continued to have problems.

“Our Driver’s License staff received training today and attempted to process driver’s licenses,” Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler said in the Facebook post. “Our staff was only able to finish the process on two licenses. Those two were incomplete, missing pictures of the drivers. Those results were unacceptable.”

Wheeler apologized for the disruption in service, and said the citizens of the state deserve more.

“Our office will reopen after the holiday and hopefully the service the state provides will be restored,” he added.

The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, which staffs the operations that use ITD computers, announced the Post Falls office will be open today for normal business hours from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

"We anticipate it being slow," said Dennis Stinebaugh, Kootenai County Sheriff's Office spokesman.

Stinebaugh said that due to the delays caused by the shutdown, the KCSO is expecting longer-than-normal lines and wait times.

The Coeur d'Alene office will be closed today as usual and re-open Tuesday after the Labor Day holiday.

Stinebaugh said the KCSO on Thursday successfully implemented the temporary solution provided by ITD to get services back online. "This afternoon the employees of Driver’s Licensing have been testing the temporary solution with positive results," a KCSO press release states. "We are hopeful this solution will continue to be successful and allow normal processing of driver’s licenses."

ITD officials described the problem as a breakdown between ITD's new computer system and vendor Gemalto's software.

Sheriff Ben Wolfinger said the delays have been frustrating and beyond the control of the KCSO.

Idaho and Nebraska are the lone states in which the county sheriff's offices staff the operations. State transportation departments staff them in other states.

Those who don't want to wait in line at the offices will be given a letter from the ITD that extends the expiration date for expiring or expired driver's license and identification cards through Oct. 31.

The extension does not apply to drivers whose privileges are currently withdrawn until reinstatement requirements are fulfilled.

The extension also does not apply to drivers with commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) who do not have a legal presence document on file with the Idaho DMV and CDL drivers with expired hazardous materials endorsements.

Questions or requests for documentation to support an extension should be directed to 208-334-8000.

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter’s office facilitated a meeting Thursday with the Idaho Sheriffs’ Association, the Idaho Chiefs of Police Association, Idaho State Police, Idaho Association of Counties, the Idaho Transportation Department and other stakeholders to discuss ongoing problems.

“This is currently one of the highest priorities in state government,” Otter said. “We have agreed to work closely with our partners in law enforcement and other affected stakeholders to identify, prioritize and resolve the issues creating backlogs and frustration at the Division of Motor Vehicles.

"To that end, my office is committed to getting the system up and running efficiently in the interim and ensuring the problems are fixed over the long-term.”

Director of the Idaho Transportation Department Brian Ness apologized to Idaho citizens.

“Our focus going forward is to restore acceptable, consistent service," Ness said. "We appreciate everyone’s patience. We are committed to partnering with all stakeholders to identify and develop an immediate and long-term solution that will resolve these issues.”

Caroline Lobsinger contributed to this report.