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| Lewis County Clerk Says Longer Lines at DMV Partly Attributed to New REAL ID Process 07/29/18 01:00pm By: Nick Altmire |
Motor Vehicles (DMV) in Lowville recently may have noticed the lines and wait times have been longer than usual. "DMV offices across the State are experiencing the same issue," Lewis County Clerk Linda Hoskins said. The County Clerk's office oversees the local DMV branch. Ms. Hoskins attributes the longer wait times to a number of factors, with the new process to obtain a REAL ID or Enhanced Driver Licence (EDL) the main cause. Upgrades being implemented to the State computer system used by DMV branches has also caused periodic problems. Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act establishes minimum security standards for state-issued driver licenses, permits and ID cards. Beginning on October 1, 2020, the federal government will require your driver license, permit or ID card to be REAL ID compliant if you wish to use it as identification to board a domestic flight (within the U.S.), or enter military bases and federal buildings. New York State began issuing REAL ID licenses, permits, and ID cards on October 30, 2017. You can view the NYS DMV REAL ID Video for an overview of the program. The DMV has recently started to heavily promote awareness to the upcoming transition. One big change with the REAL ID processing is the requirement that two DMV examiners are required to process each EDL application. The first examiner must review all documents and enter into the computer system, then a second examiner reviews each document and completes the transaction. Anyone upgrading to the REAL ID or EDL must do so in person. You cannot get a REAL ID online, by phone, or through mail. This has led to additional traffic in DMV offices, as those who would normally renew their license by mail or online must now go to a DMV office for their initial REAL ID upgrade. Regular driver's licenses will still be available for those who see no need for the REAL ID. The REAL ID costs the same as a regular license, while an Enhanced Driver License costs an additional $30. The EDL can be used instead of a passport to return to the US by land or sea from Canada, Mexico and some countries in the Caribbean. Children will also need a REAL ID in order to board domestic flights. To obtain a REAL ID for a child, you will need their Social Security Card, Birth Certificate, and two proofs of address. Proofs of address can be a report card, savings account statement or any other document containing the child's name and current address. Ms. Hoskins provided some tips for avoiding the line at the DMV in some instances:
If you do need to process a transaction with an examiner, you can speed up the process by having all forms completed and ensuring you have all of the requested documents. You can locate forms and checklists on the NYS DMV website. To see what kind of proof needed for each ID, you can use this link on the DMV website. Ms. Hoskins said one of the more common issues has been with people with name changes. It is necessary to show proof of how you got from the name on your birth certificate and social security card to your current name. This can require multiple documents of proof if you have had a number of name changes via marriages and divorces or other circumstances. All documents must be originals. If you need a replacement birth certificate, you can go to the town clerk's office in the town you were born. A replacement social security card can be obtained at the social security office in Watertown or Utica. With the high volume of traffic at the DMV office recently, Ms. Hoskins noted t hat phone calls at the office are routinely picked up by voicemail when all examin ers are assisting customers in person. The answer to most questions can be loca ted on the DMV website, but if you need to speak with someone by phone you can call the DMV Call Center at 1-518-486-9786. The highest volume of traffic at the Lowville office is generally seen on Mondays and Fridays, according to Ms. Hoskins, so if you plan your DMV transactions for a different day you may encounter a shorter wait time. "We really do understand the frustration people are feeling, we are trying to do everything we can to get everyone through their transaction as quickly as possible," Ms. Hoskins said. Ms. Hoskins said that although wait times in Lewis County have increased, some neighboring DMV offices have seen wait times close to four hours. This has contributed to a higher volume of people coming in from other counties to use the DMV location in Lowville to process transactions. So, if a trip to the Lowville DMV is in your near future, the best advice is to be prepared with everything you will need to complete your transaction and expect the possibility that you may face a wait time of an hour or more. |
Lewis County DMV Office, 7049 State Route 12, Lowville, NY 13367