LANSING — Thousands of Michigan residents would see their driver licenses expire because of the closure of Michigan Secretary of State branch offices, an official confirmed Tuesday.

To resolve the issue, state motor licensing officials will ask Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to issue an executive order to extend the affected licenses, said Tracy Wimmer, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Secretary of State's Office.

Under state law, motorists who renewed their licenses online the previous time they renewed must renew in person the next time.

However, the Michigan Department of State announced Monday it is closing Secretary of State branch offices for at least three weeks under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's "stay home" order to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

About 25,000 people a month see their driver licenses expire and are unable to renew online, Wimmer said.

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"The Department of State does not have the authority to extend expirations," said department spokesman Jake Rollow.

"The Legislature and the governor do. However, we have asked Michigan State Police to notify local law enforcement agencies about our current closure and to use discretion when interacting with someone with an expired credential."

Roman Grygosinski, a retired Ford Motor Co. design worker who lives in Livonia, said his license will expire in two weeks and he does not take much comfort from police being told to use discretion.

"What if I get into an accident?" he asked. "Then I'm in trouble, driving with an expired license. What I need is an official edict from the governor, so I feel assured."

Grygosinksi said Whitmer has issued a wide range of sweeping orders on other subjects, and he does not see why she could not also issue one on expired licenses.

Though he is retired, "you've got to get groceries," Grygosinksi said. Also, "nobody knows how long this will last."

A Whitmer spokeswoman did not respond to a message seeking comment.

But Wimmer said: "We will be asking Gov. Whitmer for an executive order to extend expirations."

Grygosinski was not remiss in leaving his renewal to the last minute, he said. As soon as he got his renewal notice, he went to the local branch office and found more than 100 people in line, he said. He then went home and made an appointment — for Tuesday— which was canceled when the closures were announced. He then made another appointment, but the first he could get was for April 24, well after his license expires.

Wimmer said "late fees will be waived for expirations that have occurred since the department first shifted branch operations on March 16."

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4. Read more on Michigan politics and sign up for our elections newsletter.