Birmingham, AL - On a good day at a Jefferson County satellite courthouse, you can get in and get out.

"Today, it wasn't too bad," says Kathy Payne, Pinson. "About maybe 10 minutes?"

But on a busy day the line can snake around for hours, with people waiting to renew a vehicle tag, pay a fee or get a drivers license.

"It can be busy," says Jennifer of Grayson Valley. "Certain times of the month I think are worse than others."

Some believe the worst is yet to come. By August 15th, the Satellite Courthouses will close, forcing all JeffCo residents to go to Birmingham or Bessemer to take care of business, but those aren't the only options you have for renewing your tags.

"I told my friend that if the place shuts down," says Winston Hollingsworth, Pinson, "then next year, I'll mail mine in instead of standing in line."

Or you could sit while online. The county's revamped website now offers what Commissioner Shelia Smoot calls a more user friendly process for renewing tags. Some folks like Reblin are very familiar with on-line renewal...

"You can easily do that on-line, and it's very user friendly. It's very easy to do."

Others like Payne aren't too comfortable with the idea.

"Because I've never had to do it. I've always just been able to come here."

Jefferson County stopped accepting debit and credit cards at the window because it cost the county too much; however, you can use either form of payment on line for a small fee. It may cost you a little more.. But in the end, it could save you a lot of time.

"If my daughter or one of my kinfolks will help me, I'll order my tags," Hollingsworth says.

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