REAL ID Deadline Looms as NJ Shows Lowest Compliance Rate
New Jersey residents are facing mounting pressure as the May 7 REAL ID deadline approaches, with the state showing the lowest compliance rate nationwide. A CBS News analysis revealed that New Jersey has the lowest REAL ID adoption percentage among 49 states surveyed, creating urgency for travelers who may soon need the federally compliant identification for domestic flights.
Appointment scarcity at Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) locations has sparked bipartisan outrage across the state, with many residents reporting months-long waits to secure the necessary documentation. “I check every single day, there’s no appointments,” said Kathleen Ronk, a New Jersey resident frustrated by the process.
The Latest Trending Headlines in Your Area:
- New Recovery Café to Brew Community, Connection, and Change
- Jersey’s Hidden Gems: Delicious Dives Worth The Drive
- Men Face One Night Jail After $1,000 Pig-Killing Scheme
- New Jersey Retirement Requires Over $1 Million, Study Reveals
- Tiny Chihuahua Infiltrates High-Security Naval Weapons Base
Emergency Program Launched Amid Growing Concerns
In response to the compliance crisis, the New Jersey MVC has initiated an emergency REAL ID program operating out of its Trenton center. According to ABC7 New York, the program prioritizes travelers with imminent plans who cannot secure standard appointments before their departure dates.
“What we have done at the Motor Vehicle Commission is repeatedly add appointments and reallocate resources to better meet the really, really high demand for REAL ID right now,” explained William Connolly, press secretary for the New Jersey MVC, who noted the commission adds approximately 3,500 new appointments each business morning.
Lawmakers Push for Deadline Extension
As the compliance deadline nears, legislators from multiple states are urging federal officials to reconsider the timing. In Kentucky, lawmakers wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, stating that if the deadline isn’t pushed, “it will further strain already overburdened regional offices and create unnecessary hardship.”
Some states have taken more dramatic measures, with Maine proposing legislation to opt out of the REAL ID program entirely. Though federal officials have previously extended the deadline multiple times since the program’s inception following the 9/11 attacks, no announcement regarding further extensions has been made.
Understanding REAL ID Requirements
The REAL ID is distinguishable from a standard New Jersey driver’s license by the gold star symbol in the upper right corner. This marking indicates the holder has provided additional identification documentation that meets federal security standards established by the Department of Homeland Security.
“REAL ID is not required in New Jersey, you are not mandated to get one, but if you typically use your driver’s license to fly you’ll probably want a REAL ID,” Connolly explained to WHYY. He emphasized that the May 7 date marks the beginning of enforcement, not a cutoff for obtaining the identification.
Alternative Options for Travelers
For those unable to secure a REAL ID before the deadline, alternative forms of federally approved identification will still be accepted for domestic air travel. Valid U.S. passports, passport cards, and military IDs remain compliant with the new requirements.
Tracy Noble, public affairs manager for AAA Club Alliance, noted that “if they are someone who is simply a driver and they don’t travel frequently and they have a passport, then that’s a personal choice, whether they want to go through the steps to get a REAL ID or not.”
The Latest Trending Headlines in Your Area:
