Latest news with #HouseBill821
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
DMV remains busy, one week into REAL ID implementation in NC
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A week since travelers have been asked to show their REAL IDs when traveling, DMV offices across North Carolina continue to be busy. 'It's been fun getting to practice patience a little bit,' said Logan Ostby, who just moved from Georgia. The DMV reports a noticeable increase in the number of people trying to get a REAL ID in recent weeks and months, with nearly 100,000 last month alone. 'I had a colleague try to do it last week, waited for four hours one time, had to come back at a different day, waited two hours in that time and then finally got his REAL ID,' said Lynne Beaman. With appointments booked 90 days out and lines of people wanting to walk-in, drivers hope to see improvements once more people have gotten their REAL ID's. 'I got mine done a couple of years ago when my teenagers were getting their drivers licenses, and I know for a lot of people it's quite a process, but even when we did it years ago, we had to go back and go home and get paperwork that we were missing,' Beaman said. The DMV says 52% of North Carolinians have a REAL ID. While the law has been implemented for a week now, passengers without a REAL ID, or other acceptable form of ID like a passport, can still fly with additional security screenings. As the backlog of people continues at the DMV, the North Carolina House of Representatives is considering legislation that would put a temporary pause to the expiration of certain licenses. If it becomes law, House Bill 821 would make it so drivers with an expired license would be able to continue driving with it through the end of 2027. The legislation would not apply to REAL ID compliant licenses, or those that are canceled, revoked, or suspended. With the busy summer travel season approaching, the DMV says the best time to get a REAL ID will likely be during weekend hours. Certain DMV locations will be open on Saturdays starting at the end of May. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NC could extend driver's license expiration dates as RealID deadline approaches
If your North Carolina driver's license is expiring soon, you could have an extra two years to get it renewed. That's the goal for some lawmakers who are hoping to address the Division of Motor Vehicles backlogs. As the enforcement date for RealIDs gets closer, a new bill could help shorten lines at local DMVs. That'll help people like Melissania Gill, who came prepared to wait in line at the Brookshire Boulevard DMV. She showed up complete with all of her documents, and a chair to stay off her feet. 'It wasn't nice what I was thinking, but I knew it was going to be like this,' Gill said with a laugh. But Gill told Channel 9's Eli Brand she thinks they should have 'better ways' to get a new ID. 'They really do, and I really don't understand why they had to go this way, but that's the law, so that's why I'm here,' Gill said. She definitely wasn't alone. We could see how long the line was Tuesday morning, with most people looking to get a RealID before the May 7 deadline. In an effort to help, some lawmakers filed House Bill 821, which would extend the use of certain licenses by two full years after they expire. The law wouldn't apply to licenses that were revoked, cancelled, or suspended, and they wouldn't apply to RealIDs older than eight years. 'For this, I don't think we have much of a choice, and I don't see any other solution that they've got,' Gill said. Extended licenses that aren't RealIDs would still need to be replaced eventually if you want to get onto airplanes and into federal government buildings. But they would still allow you to drive. Lawmakers were in session Tuesday, but Channel 9 learned they plan to pass the bill by next week. (VIDEO: Voter says she was denied ID verification because of mask)
Newsweek
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Driver's Licenses Could Change for Millions of Americans
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Millions of drivers in North Carolina could see rules around license expirations and renewals change. Why It Matters According to the Federal Highway Administration, there were more than 7.7 million motorists in North Carolina in 2021. But the process of renewing a license has become difficult due to a large backlog at the state's Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office. What To Know In North Carolina, standard driver's licenses are valid for eight years for those between 18 and 65 years old, and five years for those 66 years and older. Under House Bill 821, which received approval by the House Transportation Committee in April, a Class C driver's license would remain valid for up to two years after its expiration, which would permit motorists to continue driving without penalty in the state. The two-year grace period would expire at the end of 2027. The extension would not apply to drivers whose licenses have been canceled, revoked or suspended. "The General Assembly finds that there is a backlog of drivers unable to renew their drivers licenses in person. It is the intent of this act to eliminate that backlog," the bill reads. It was introduced by three state lawmakers: Republicans Jay Adams, Keith Kidwell and Mike Schietzelt. According to local outlet NC Newsline, Republican lawmakers of a GOP-controlled legislature have regularly criticized the state's DMV. Highway road near Raleigh, North Carolina, taken on May 13, 2018. Highway road near Raleigh, North Carolina, taken on May 13, 2018. GETTY The bill has been introduced due to a backlog of in-person appointments, which are required for new residents, first-time drivers and those getting their first REAL ID. Staffing shortages have been primarily blamed for the backlog, and local outlets have reported that technology used by the DMV is also outdated. Newsweek has contacted North Carolina's DMV office for comment via email. In the fall of 2024, the DMV's outgoing commissioner Wayne Goodwin, a Democrat, requested funding to hire ove60 new employees, but the request was denied. The DMV also announced in April that it had added 42 offices that would be open for an extra hour on weekdays, on top of the 50 that already do. In February, Republican State Auditor Dave Boliek announced he would be looking into the issues at the agency. What People Are Saying Jay Adams said, a key sponsor of the bill, said according to a report by NC Newsline: "Right now, apparently you cannot make an appointment to get your license renewal anywhere in the state. I spoke to somebody the day before yesterday who spent five hours getting his daughter's driver's license issued." Representative Harry Warren, a Republican, said: "This bill would basically be facilitating the incompetency of the DMV by alleviating them of their responsibility of their job." Goodwin, DMV's outgoing commissioner, told legislators in February: "We frankly had more successes than challenges. But as is life, and as is public affairs, state and federal government, you will likely hear more about what is not working than what is working." What Happens Next The bill has been referred to the House finance committee.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Driver license expiring soon? This bill would offer a reprieve as NCDMV faces a massive backlog
NC Driver's License (File photo) North Carolina legislators say one of the most common complaints they receive from constituents is just how long it takes for motorists to get an appointment at their Division of Motor Vehicles office. Now House Bill 821 would impose a temporary moratorium on the expiration date on certain Class C drivers licenses. Representative Jay Adams (R-Catawba) said the bill is intended to alleviate the concern that people have about getting their licenses renewed at a time that they are struggling to get an appointment at their local DMV office. 'Right now, apparently you cannot make an appointment to get your license renewal anywhere in the state,' Adams explained. 'I spoke to somebody the day before yesterday who spent five hours getting his daughter's driver's license issued.' Under HB 821, a Class C driver's license would remain valid for a period of up to two years after its expiration, allowing the motorist to continue driving without the risk of penalty in the state while the backlog is cleared at the DMV. It would not apply to drivers with a canceled, revoked, or suspended license. 'Has anybody articulated from the department what these challenges are stemming from? Is it personnel? Is it funding?' asked Rep. Deb Butler (D-New Hanover.) Adams told the House Transportation Committee from his perspective the NCDMV has moved away from their core responsibilities, and it would take a lot of reorganization to resolve the current backlog. 'I look at it from a business standpoint, and their operations are not very well organized,' Adams replied. Rep. Phil Shepard, the committee co-chair, agreed with the bill sponsor. 'Just this week, I've received a complaint from a constituent. Her license expires in a month and she called to get an appointment and the appointment is after her license expires. So she said, 'What am I supposed to do?'' Shepard also agreed with Butler's suggestion that the legislature needed to study why the DMV was continuing to have problems in serving the public and how best to resolve those pressure points. 'This bill would basically be facilitating the incompetency of the DMV by alleviating them of the responsibility of their job,' responded Rep. Harry Warren (R-Rowan) bluntly. Warren said while the current DMV commissioner has worked to modernize the agency, the position should not be a political appointment. 'I've been here for three different gubernatorial administrations, and I haven't seen any improvement in that department worth noting,' said Warren. Rep. Donnie Loftis (R-Gaston) said many North Carolinians wait until the final weeks before their license expired to try to get an appointment. He also reminded his colleagues that it often takes more than six months to fill vacant positions at many state agencies, leaving fewer workers to serve a growing state. 'That's one of the major barriers, and I made the comment to the [DMV] commissioner if you don't fix this, we'll privatize it.' Commissioner Wayne Goodwin announced in February his plans to leave the beleaguered agency as soon as a replacement could be found. This week, the Senate included in its budget proposal a plan to establish a new nine-member Board of Motor Vehicles that would appoint the DMV commissioner, removing that appointment from the state Secretary of Transportation and the governor. With Wednesday's approval, House Bill 821 (Drivers License Expiration Moratorium) heads next to the House Finance Committee. Rep. Loftis reminded his colleagues that even if the bill becomes law, North Carolina motorists would be wise to continue to seek their renewal in a timely manner. '[If] you're driving in another state with an expired license, that just creates more questions.'
