OBSERVER Photo by Jo Ward

The Dunkirk office of the Chautauqua County Department of Motor Vehicles reopened to long lines Monday.

More than a dozen people could be seen waiting outside the 3988 Vineyard Drive location. Similar lines were seen in Mayville and Jamestown on the first day all three reopened to in-person visits amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a news release last week, Barmore stated: “We will only be doing transactions in-person that cannot be done by mail or drop box. We currently have several employees out on voluntary furlough, so we will only be able to serve a few people at a time.

“Currently we are planning on three customers at a time in Jamestown, two at a time in Dunkirk and one at a time in Mayville. In order to keep everyone at least 6 feet apart, we will only take a customer at every other window and only those customers being served will be allowed in the building. All customers will wait their turn in line outdoors. The other employees will be processing work we receive by mail and drop box.

“We will be taking in-person visits on a first come, first served basis. I considered several ways of taking appointments but they all took a person away from processing transactions. Until further notice, the DMV offices will be open 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. There will be no late hours.

“Only the person performing the transaction will be allowed in the building with the exception of under 18 permit testing that requires a parent to accompany the applicant. Anyone who is visibly sick will not be allowed to enter the building. All persons entering the building will be required to wear a mask.