A glitch in reporting resulted in hundreds of Bulloch County citizens receiving recent notices that their driver’s licenses were suspended. Those affected were people with previous DUI charges, said Bulloch County Clerk of Courts Heather Banks McNeal.

About 400 citizens were affected, and measures are being taken to correct the issue, she said.

“For unknown reasons from 2008 through 2014, some driver’s license suspensions were not electronically transmitted to the Georgia Department of Driver Services,” she said. “On October 16, 2014, previously un-transmitted records of suspensions were electronically sent to DDS.  Those records included the records of 403 people charged with driving under the influence whose sentences may have included a driver’s license suspension.”

McNeal said she did not have an answer regarding how the glitch occurred, but said measures were being taken to correct the matter.

When the DDS received the reports Oct. 16, it sent letters notifying people their licenses were suspended.

“Some of those notices were erroneous,” McNeal said.

There is no reason for alarm, however. The Bulloch County Clerk of Courts Office is working with the Department of Driver Services to correct the matter, and local law enforcement agencies were provided with a list of people whose licenses might show up suspended, but should not be suspended.

“Since learning of the problem, the clerk’s office has been working with DDS to resolve it,” McNeal said. “Many of the suspensions were proper, and those with identified errors have been corrected.  A few remaining cases are under investigation and are expected to be resolved over the next several days.”

Anyone receiving a notice of suspension who believes the notice is incorrect should contact the Department of Driver Services or the Office of the Bulloch County Clerk of Courts, but should not drive until notified of reinstatement by DDS, she said. 

A spokesperson at the Bulloch County Department of Driver Services said Thursday there would be no comment regarding the issue released to the media from the local office.

McNeal said: “Anyone affected would have received notification from DDS.”

The Bulloch County Clerk of Courts Office may be reached at (912) 764-9009. The Bulloch County Department of Driver Services, at 19051 U.S. Highway 301 North, Statesboro, may be reached at (912) 681-5999.

Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at (912) 489-9414.