The South Dakota Department of Public Safety has shut down 15 drivers licensing stations across South Dakota.  It's part of a plan to shift those workers from smaller communities to busier ones, like in Sioux Falls.  But officials believe the move will help serve the stations that will remain open.

On days like Tuesday, the driver licensing station in Sioux Falls on Westport Avenue gets busy well before sunrise.

"People want to come in and get processed as soon as possible," Senior Examiner Jim Lilla said.

Workers here process up to 200 licenses a day. And with other offices closing in smaller communities, stations like Sioux Falls now have more help at the desk.

Two days a week, the driver licensing exam station will have two extra workers on duty.

"By bringing in the extra staff, it will help shorten the wait times at the Sioux Falls office here. People would be able to come in and get their driver's licenses renewed, also get drive tests at a faster rate," Lilla said. 

Lilla says more Canton residents are expected to head to Sioux Falls now that their station is closed. But he says many drivers were already making the trip.

"The numbers in Canton and surrounding communities were low enough that it really didn't justify having the examiners go there," Lilla said.

But some drivers don't think that will sit well with everyone.

"People aren't going to like that because of the gas prices, driving all that way from Canton to Sioux Falls, just to get their licenses," Justin Bernards said.

Officials say it's too soon to tell how many will head north to Sioux Falls, but they're hoping that drivers who do make the extra trip will get better service when they arrive.

State officials say the driver licensing station in the Minnehaha County Administration building won't get any additional staff from the closures. But it could if traffic increases.