Two senators are pushing for changes to Guam’s driver and vehicle licensing system, citing growing frustrations from island residents over delays, inefficiencies, and paperwork burdens.
Vice Speaker V. Anthony “Tony” Ada announced Monday that he has formally raised concerns with Department of Revenue & Taxation (DRT) Director Marie Lizama regarding long wait times, technical outages, and backlogs affecting driver’s license and REAL ID services. Ada stressed that access to licenses is essential for employment, healthcare, and daily life. “The delays and inefficiencies undermine public trust and place an unnecessary burden on families and workers,” he said, urging DRT to modernize operations and reduce wait times.
Meanwhile, Sen. Telo Taitague said she will introduce an amendment to the fiscal 2026 budget bill to eliminate the requirement for notarized bills of sale in vehicle transfers. The change, she said, responds to constituents who struggled to track down off-island sellers or register project vehicles not in working condition. Her amendment would also extend the deadline for vehicle title transfers from 30 days to 180 days before penalties and interest are applied.
Taitague emphasized that her proposal aims to ease hardships created by prior legislation. “We have heard the concerns of the people … addressing their issues and concerns will always be the driving force behind my amendments and policies,” she said.
Taitague also reminded the public that they are “grandfathered in,” meaning they would not need a notarized bill of sale for vehicles purchased prior to Bill 88-38 passing into law.
Both Ada and Taitague expressed willingness to work with DRT and fellow lawmakers to improve services and restore confidence in the government’s ability to meet public needs.