Laguna Hills, CA – U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40) sent a letter yesterday to California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Director Steve Gordon expressing concerns about the planned closure of the DMV Laguna Hills office.
“The Laguna Hills office is one of two DMV facilities that serve South Orange County. Its closure will redirect 855,000 South Orange County residents to San Clemente, a smaller facility 18 miles away with less parking availability, and pose unnecessary restrictions on constituents who require in-person services,” wrote Rep. Kim.
Rep. Kim continued, “Senior citizens who rely on the Laguna Hills office to comply with DMV policy are among the most impacted. The surrounding South Orange County communities have large senior demographics, particularly in the neighboring city of Laguna Woods where 81% of their population is age 65 and over. DMV requires drivers over the age of 70 to pass a compulsory vision test that can only be conducted in
person.”
Read the full letter HERE or below.
I write to express strong concerns regarding the planned closure of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Laguna Hills office. This closure raises serious concerns by shutting down a critical resource for many South Orange County residents and forcing them to travel further to receive services from the DMV.
The Laguna Hills office is one of two DMV facilities that serve South Orange County. Its closure will redirect 855,000 South Orange County residents to San Clemente, a smaller facility 18 miles away with less parking availability, and pose unnecessary restrictions on constituents who require in-person services.
Senior citizens who rely on the Laguna Hills office to comply with DMV policy are among the most impacted. The surrounding South Orange County communities have large senior demographics, particularly in the neighboring city of Laguna Woods where 81% of their population is age 65 and over. DMV requires drivers over the age of 70 to pass a compulsory vision test that can only be conducted in
person.
There is no guarantee that the Santa Ana, Costa Mesa and San Clemente locations DMV offered as alternatives will increase capacity to meet the increased demand for services. Moreover, Value Rock Realty, the commercial property owner of the Laguna Hills Office, has clearly expressed their desire to renew their lease with DMV.
To close the Laguna Hills office without an alternative viable to the communities it serves would be derelict of the department’s responsibility of serving constituents in South Orange County. I urge you to reconsider the closure of the DMV Laguna Hills office to ensure the continuity of essential services to our South Orange County residents by renegotiating the existing lease or seeking a new lease in the immediate vicinity. We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to its resolution.
