A grassroots group of Laguna Woods residents gathered outside Polly’s Pies on Sept. 26 for a protest against the impending closure of the nearby Laguna Hills DMV.

The 20 or so people, some carrying relevant signs, then marched to the DMV building across the shopping center.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles recently announced that the Laguna Hills branch, at 23535 Moulton Parkway, would close permanently this month. The office was originally scheduled to close at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, but the closure has been extended to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18.

“The Laguna Hills office, which opened in 1987, does not meet the current needs of the DMV,” the state agency has said in a statement.

It said that more than 90% of transactions are available via smartphone, tablet, laptop or computer. It further said that most DMV business can be completed online or by mail, at DMV kiosks throughout the state, over the phone or through DMV business partners.

Transactions that require in-office visits, the DMV said, can be completed at DMV locations in Santa Ana, Costa Mesa or San Clemente.

Some legislators, led by Assemblymember Diane Dixon, have been urging the DMV to reconsider closing the Laguna Hills branch.

Roseanne Corrigliano, who took part in the protest, said she has lived in the Laguna Woods retirement community since the early 1980s, before the Laguna Hills DMV opened.

Residents needed to use the DMV office in San Clemente, “and the lines were enormous,” she said, “not to mention the drive down there.”

Charlie Prater has lived in the Laguna Woods Village for 10 years.

“This DMV needs to be here for the 18,000 residents of the Village,” he said as he marched toward the local branch. “Not only for the Village residents, but also for everybody else in South OC. … And we’re supposed to cut down on driving.”

Laguna Woods City Councilmembers Carol Moore and Shari Horne both took part in the protest.

Horne said the purpose of the action was to “bring attention to the issue and to let our voices be heard, because it affects us all – all 18,000 Village residents.”

She said she has been calling legislators and even the governor’s office about the issue.

In an email, Moore thanked all who turned out for the protest.

“People who were visiting the DMV (that day) all supported our efforts and want it to remain open,” she said. “Furthermore, a gentleman told us he could not obtain a reservation to renew his driver’s license and it had expired. He was visiting the facility to extend his license for the earliest appointment … over 90 days in the future … Dec. 24th, and he will have to drive to Westminster. It is obvious we need this location.”