If the rest of Washington is open, why is the DOL office still blocking doors for COVID?

Washingtonians can now attend a packed rock concert or sporting event without proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test.

But if they go to the state Department of Licensing office in Kennewick they’ll be met by a worker guarding closed doors.

With the indoor mask mandate lifted this week, we wondered if state agencies that restricted public access the past two years might finally be opening.

On Tuesday, the local DOL office still had its “closed” sign up and was only allowing people into the building if they had made an appointment. Those who hadn’t were turned away.

So we called the head office in Olympia to find out when DOL sites would be joining the rest of the state in relaxing COVID protocols. Turns out the agency had taken down its “by appointment only” message on its main website and the transition was supposed to be in process.

We were assured that the Kennewick office should be open and allowing walk-ins if possible.

When we told authorities that wasn’t the case, an Olympia official said the office would be looking into the situation.

Sure enough, when we checked a couple days later the signs on the Kennewick DOL windows had been changed to “open” and there was a “masks recommended” sign clinging to the glass.

But the doors were still closed to the public and a worker was questioning people before allowing anyone to enter — even though a dozen or so chairs spread out in the waiting area were empty.

Those with appointments are given priority, while those without have to hope they can slide in.

Trouble is, if that’s all there is to it then this system could easily be abused by staff wanting a light day. All they would have to do is say there’s no room for walk-ins and shut the door.

We’re not saying that’s what’s going on locally, but this post-COVID approach definitely needs more transparency.

There should be a way for the public to see just how busy the agency truly is — like walking in to get a pizza or a haircut and seeing people’s names on a screen in the order they will be served.

Not that we would ever want to go back to the those take-a-number days at the DOL. Sometimes the place would be so crowded it could take a couple hours before your name was called.

So, no, we aren’t suggesting going back in time.

Encouraging people to do as much as they can online makes sense, and using the internet to make appointments is efficient.

We also understand that social distancing is needed, and that limiting the number of people in the waiting area is important to keep people safe.

But at the same time the DOL is there to serve the public. Requiring staff to essentially shut people out erodes confidence in the agency.

City and county offices have been safely working with the public for months. Surely state agencies can find a way to manage that as well.

As an aside, this past session the Legislature raised the cost for the Enhanced Drivers License from $4 a year to $7 a year.

The current fee is $24 on top of the regular $54 license fee, so it’s $78 total for a 6-year enhanced license.

But on Oct. 1, the increase will mean a 6-year EDL will be $96 total and an 8-year one will be $110.

Also on Oct. 1, getting a new photo for your driver’s license will increase from $10 to $20. The money raised from the increased fees will help pay for the new statewide transportation package.

The closer we get to October, the more interest there will be in getting a new license or a new photo before rates spike up. So it wouldn’t be surprising if there is a bit of a rush close to the deadline.

Long before that happens, DOL officials should make sure they have a system in place the public can trust.

Because right now, blocking people at the door when the waiting area is empty accomplishes the opposite.