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Frustrated viewers and posts on social media wanted to know why wait times were so long for new tags at the Shelby County Clerk'south Part. We found out.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In our exclusive Verify, we establish answers later frustrated Shelby County drivers told u.s. it'due south taking longer than ever to become new license plates or tags in the mail - or fifty-fifty connect by phone with operators at the Shelby Canton Clerk'south office.

Some drivers who've already paid for new plates and tags are all the same driving with expiring plates and tags, putting them at the mercy of any local police officer or sheriff'south deputy.

Viewers called ABC24 Memphis well-nigh the trouble, and we also saw local posts about it on Nextdoor this month.

Question I

Why is delivery of new Tennessee license plates taking so long in Shelby County?

The source

The Answer

A lengthy excess and understaffing has led to long wait times for new license plates at the Shelby Canton Clerk's Function.

What We Plant

"We share your pain," Halbert said Friday. "We are frustrated. We've been blowing the bullhorn ourselves."

Halbert said the backlog is even worse this year, the commencement since 2006 where all Shelby County drivers must get a new license plate, unless you have a specialty plate.

"Nosotros are going to feel delays because of the number of challenges. Nosotros oasis't had these plates in such a long time," Halbert added.

The clerk showed u.s.a. the mailroom in Downtown Memphis Friday afternoon, where a three-person team is in charge of mailing out at to the lowest degree 5,000 new plates and tags each week.

"They've always had two to three people in our mailroom," Halbert said. "(It's) absolutely not (enough) for the largest county in the country of Tennessee."

Halbert said anyone who has already applied simply hasn't received their plate should continue the certificate on their phone or in their car to endeavor to avoid a ticket.

Question Two

Why is information technology so hard to reach someone past phone in the Clerk's function?

The Source

The Answer

Understaffing means longer wait times to reach someone on the telephone at the Shelby County Clerk'due south Role.

What We Found

"You definitely cannot handle information technology with an erstwhile, antiquated phone arrangement," Halbert said.

During business days, v people accept in at least 100 calls per hour, and the clerk'southward part staff said that can cause some wait times equally long every bit an hour earlier a caller finally gets through.

"I of the biggest concerns that we've been expressing to the (Shelby) Canton Commission has been the lack of resource," Halbert said.

The clerk said the Shelby County Commission rejected her request last yr to add 24 staff members to better handle the clerk's office telephone call and mail volume.

She plans to make a similar request again this budget cycle, but asks for the public's patience in the meantime.

"Those are the challenges we've experienced. It's not an excuse, and it's not acceptable, merely there are things that need to modify based on the size of our county and the needs of our customers," Halbert added.

The Shelby Canton clerk plans to give the Shelby County commission budget chairman a similar tour of staffing limitations in her office in a few weeks.

So what can be done?

Call the Shelby County Clerk's main number at 901-222-3000 or the alternate number 901-222-3068 or visit whatever location of the Shelby County Clerk'south Office to become the new plates.

For more information near renewing license plates, click Here.

If you've paid for your 2022 plates or tags and they haven't arrived, or you lot tin can't get through to a real person at the Shelby County Clerk'due south Office, text the give-and-take 'TAGS' to 901-321-7520 and we'll send you those phone numbers for assist.