Mississippi opens new Driver Services station in Canton; mobile unit to serve underserved areas

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety opened a new Driver Services station at 152 Watford Parkway in Canton and held a grand opening on April 1, officials told the Madison County board during a meeting. Alan McDaniel, chief of staff for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, and Treasure Tyson, director of the Driver Service Bureau and Identity Management Bureau, described services now available and plans for additional capacity.

“We have a new station open in Canton. It is at 152 Watford Parkway. We had a grand opening April 1, and we have 4 workstations there,” Treasure Tyson said, adding that the facility houses back-office operations for reinstatements and records. Tyson said a commercial-driver skills-testing lot is planned on the space behind the building but remains contingent on funding and equipment.

Tyson said the station is offering driver’s license renewals and identification credentials now and that a mobile van with two workstations tested last week and will begin serving underserved areas, schools and nursing homes this week. “We tested out last week. It is a mobile van and fully functioning, 2 2 stations in it,” she said.

Alan McDaniel thanked county officials for hosting the state agency and expressed a desire to continue collaboration. “I just want to thank y'all again for allowing us to come here. And, we look forward to a continued relationship,” he said.

Board members said the new location restores local access that had been lost and benefits older residents and county commerce. Supervisor Griffin said the effort had been in the works for years and noted the practical benefits for seniors and for keeping local spending in Canton.

Tyson described remaining limitations and near-term additions: the station and mobile unit do not yet provide skills testing for commercial licenses or permit testing because the office is awaiting equipment. When those services are available, she said, the Canton site will offer permit testing and the in-person driving skills testing required for commercial driver's licenses under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act.

Tyson also recommended that residents obtain Real ID-compliant credentials if they plan to travel or enter federal buildings, and she outlined the documentation needed. “Mississippi is fortunate. We've had, where about 97% of our identifications or our credentials issued are Real ID compliant,” Tyson said, and she advised applicants to bring a birth certificate, Social Security card and two proofs of domicile. She noted the Real ID appears as a small gold star in the upper-right corner of a license or ID.

Tyson said a state law enacted about a year ago will require a driver's education certificate beginning in July 2027 for anyone who has never previously held a Mississippi driver's license. She said the statewide curriculum will include in-car driving time with a licensed instructor and components such as distracted-driving education; until the curriculum takes effect, applicants who have not previously held a license must provide an affidavit showing 50 hours of supervised driving.

Officials said Canton will serve as a hub for driver services and identity management in the area once the remaining equipment and funding arrive; until then, some services (commercial skills and certain permit testing) must still be obtained elsewhere. Tyson said the nearest existing commercial testing lot is in Pearl, Mississippi.

County officials and state staff encouraged residents to request mobile-unit visits for schools, nursing homes and other underserved sites.

No formal action or vote was taken by the board on the matters discussed; the presentation was informational.