Customers are pictured outside the Jamestown office of the Chautauqua County Department of Motor Vehicles on Monday morning.

A line began forming even before the Jamestown office of the Chautauqua County Department of Motor Vehicles opened for business Monday morning.

The office — one of three county DMV locations — reopened for the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic to handle in-person transactions that cannot be done by mail or drop box.

By 9 a.m., a half-hour after doors opened, a line of customers stretched around the 512 W. Third St. location.

Among those waiting in line was Jamestown resident Eric Davis, who was looking to get a HAZMAT endorsement upgrade to his CDL license required for his job. He arrived at the local DMV office around 8:30 a.m., and by 10 a.m. still had about a half-dozen customers in front of him.

“When I got here, (the line) was already wrapped around the building,” Davis said. “I knew it was going to be like this because it was the first day opened.”

Jim Christ and his son, Jim Jr., arrived at the DMV at 6 a.m. and were the first in line. The younger Christ had to wait three months to complete paperwork necessary to receive his learner’s permit.

The county is allowing three customers at a time at the Jamestown office, two at a time in Dunkirk and one at a time in Mayville. According to Larry Barmore, county clerk, only customers being served will be allowed inside each building.

Employees will also continue to process paperwork received by mail and drop box.

Monday’s reopening was good news for many who have been looking to get back on the road or take care of vehicle and license paperwork.

Area resident William Mattson has been trying to get his license reinstated since COVID-19 forced the county to close its local DMV offices. “I’d like to get my license back and vehicle on the road,” Mattson said as he waited outside the Jamestown office. “I’ve been having to walk everywhere.”

Shortly before the pandemic broke out, Bryant Plymel moved to Hamburg, and since then he has been unable to change his address. Further complicating the matter, the registration on his vehicle expired.

“It’s still registered to Chautauqua County,” Plymel said of his vehicle. “I can’t do anything in Erie County. I have to be down here and re-do it where it’s already registered.”

Plymel, an independent contractor, said his vehicle has been impounded in the town of Brant because of the expired registration. He had to take the day off of work Monday in an effort to update his address and renew his vehicle registration.

Asked if he planned to get everything resolved in one day, he responded, “No, this is New York state.”

Others were attempting to clear up issues that could not be done through the mail or drop box.

Lakewood resident Danielle Lacki has been trying to transfer license plates from her current vehicle to one she bought a few weeks ago. “I did the drop box thing and they sent me all my paperwork back and I’m not sure why,” she said. “Today is my day off, and at least today is not as hot as it was yesterday.”