CHICAGO (CBS) – Illinois driver’s licensing facilities were down for more than an hour on Thursday, due to a “nationwide network outage,” but were back up and running by late morning.
“The national network that connects driver’s licensing facilities experienced an outage this morning that forced the system to temporarily shut down across the US,” a spokesperson for the Illinois Secretary of State’s office said in an email.
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias first announced the outage in a post on X shortly after 10 am
His office said the system was back up and running by 11:30 am The outage affected only driver’s license transactions, and not other vehicle services such as registration stickers and driving tests.
“The network administered by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) connects driver’s license offices in every state. As a result of the outage, DMVs were unable to access a key database search tool that allows them to verify information. The system is used by states to verify a driver’s eligibility for a license and for other critical functions,” Giannoulias’ office said.
All missed appointments during the outage were being rescheduled.
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Elyssa is a Digital News Producer. She covers breaking news for CBSChicago.com and manages the station’s social media sites.