'No Excuse': Bipartisan Anger Flares Over New Jersey’s REAL ID Delay

In numerous areas, it's almost against the law to make a left turn. New Jersey , and bipartisan lawmakers are furious about how equally challenging it has become to schedule a REAL ID appointment lately.

"For years, we've been aware that this deadline was approaching," State Assemblymember Nancy Munoz, R-Union, stated to Fox News Digital on Friday.

"There’s no justification for the Motor Vehicle Commission being so ill-prepared. constituents are rising early, constantly checking their devices, just to see appointment slots disappear within moments," stated Muñoz, who leads the opposition on the Budget Committee.

People are traveling for more than an hour simply to locate an open spot; it's unbelievable.

THE REAL ID HAS OBSERVED UNIVERSAL STATE GOVERNMENT ADHERENCE ACROSS THE COUNTRY PRIOR TO THE DEADLINE, THOUGH THIS WAS NOT ALWAY THE CASE.

Like every state and territory, New Jersey complies entirely with the updated regulations set forth by the Department of Homeland Security. These rules mandate that a driver’s license must display a star in one of the corners to verify that the owner has supplied extra identification details for boarding domestic flights.

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However, the Garden State placed last among the 49 states that replied. CBS News study on the proportion of inhabitants who have successfully acquired REAL IDs.

Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald, D-Cherry Hill, addressed Fox News Digital stating that he acknowledges the worries and anxiety of the residents, mentioning that the deadline has been extended multiple occasions since President George W. Bush enacted the legislation in 2005.

"As we head into summer, people have their travel plans set, but they're being informed that they might have to wait several months for an appointment," Greenwald stated.

NO 'REAL ID' APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE IN NEW JERSEY AS CITIZENS COMPLAIN: ‘JOIN THE MODERN ERA, NJ'

In this day and age, there’s no excuse for us to continue depending exclusively on in-person appointments, which can be very time-consuming, frequently necessitate taking time off from work or traveling far, and one misplaced paper can mean having to restart the entire procedure.

Greenwald stated that New Jersey’s appointment process is more problematic compared to other states such as nearby Pennsylvania. He noted that Pennsylvania permits residents to apply for REAL IDs through an online application, describing this approach as a practical adjustment that doesn’t conflict with federal regulations.

Regarding this, Greenwald stated that he plans to propose a legislation in Trenton aimed at instructing the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to start handling online transactions. REAL ID applications to assist in resolving the backlog and other problems.

He stated, '[In this manner], residents of New Jersey can acquire their REAL IDs effortlessly and conveniently, avoiding any unwarranted delays.'

A person close to New Jersey’s REAL ID implementation informed Fox News Digital that since it is among the few states allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain “status-neutral” licenses, its lower individual adherence rate varies compared to states where only residents with citizenship status can acquire driver's licenses. Therefore, this state inherently has a certain percentage of drivers unable to secure a REAL ID from the outset due to their immigration status.

Only green-card holders and U.S. citizens can get a REAL ID. Passports also remain acceptable for travel for people without a REAL ID.

The MVC has noted it holds weekly "REAL ID Thursdays" — where only REAL ID applications are processed, not learner's permits or renewals — and employees are also required to work two weekends per month to better serve the public.

Nevertheless, Muñoz stated that the state has had ample opportunity to prepare for the influx of New Jersey residents seeking one.

When contacted for comments, Governor Phil Murphy’s office referred Fox News Digital to the MVC.

A representative from the agency stated that the MVC has been operating tirelessly to assist as many residents as they can.

"Our challenges are not unique to New Jersey — every state in the nation is facing similar pressures as the deadline approaches," the spokesperson said.

"Our state has made REAL IDs available for the past five and a half years — since September 2019. We are currently issuing approximately 23,000 REAL IDs per week and remain focused on delivering efficient service and to ensure that every eligible New Jerseyan can secure one."

Original article source: "No excuses": Bi-partisan anger flares up due to New Jersey’s delay in processing REAL IDs.