Turning left is effectively illegal in many parts of New Jersey, and bipartisan lawmakers are furious at how difficult it is to book an actual ID these days.
“I knew for years that this deadline was coming,” R-Union state legislator Nancy Munoz told Fox News Digital on Friday.
“There's no excuse for the Automobile Board to be this unprepared. Members are awake early and refreshed their screens. They just watch the booking disappear in seconds.”
“Some people drive for more than an hour just to find available slots. That's ridiculous.”
Real ID looks at national state government compliance ahead of deadlines, but that wasn't always the case.
Signs that outline the documents needed to obtain the actual ID are hung in the Automobile Department office. (Getty Images)
New Jersey, like all states and regions, is fully compliant with the new Department of Homeland Security standards. This requires you to ensure that your driver's license is pasted in the corner and that the owner provides additional identification documents for boarding a domestic flight.
However, Garden State was the last of the 49 states that responded to a CBS News survey on the percentage of residents who actually obtained their actual IDs.
Lou Greenwald, the majority leader of D-Cherry Hill, told Fox News Digital that he understands the concerns and panic of residents, noting that deadlines have been pushed back several times since President George W. Bush signed the law in 2005.
“Now we're heading for summer. People have travel plans. They're told they have to wait a few months just to get a booking,” Greenwald said.
“Real ID” appointments are not open in New Jersey as residents ring out: “With the Times, New Jersey.”
The actual ID is set to be enforced immediately. (Getty Images)
“In the 21st century, there is no reason why we should rely solely on intensively on time, and in many cases, residents need to quit their jobs or drive long distances, and that a single forgotten document often means that the process will start again.”
Greenwald said New Jersey's appointment system is more cumbersome than other states like neighbouring Pennsylvania, allowing residents to apply for their actual IDs online, and he called for “common sense” tweaks that the Fed hasn't banned.
In that regard, Greenwald said he would introduce the bill to Trenton and direct the New Jersey Automobile Commission (MVC) to begin online processing of actual ID applications to fix backlogs and other issues.
“(That way) New Jersey can easily and conveniently obtain your actual ID without unnecessary delays,” he said.
Sources familiar with the real ID rollout in New Jersey have told Fox News Digital that it differs from states where illegal immigrants can obtain a “status neutral” license, which is different from states where only citizens can obtain driver licenses, as they are one of the few states where illegal immigrants can obtain a “status neutral” license.
Only green card holders and US citizens can obtain their actual IDs. Passports continue to be accepted for travel by people without real IDs.
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Newark is New Jersey's largest city. (Getty Images)
MVC only handles real ID applications and maintains “Real ID Thursdays” every week, not authorization or renewals from learners, and employees must serve the public to work two weeks a month.
Nevertheless, Munoz said the state has enough time to plan the rush of New Jersey people in need.
When contacted for comment, Gov. Phil Murphy's office instructed Fox News digitally to MVC.
A spokesperson for the agency said the MVC is working “non-stop” to help as many residents as possible.
“Our challenges are not endemic to New Jersey. Every state in the country faces pressures similar to how close the deadline is,” the spokesman said.
“Our state has made real IDs available in the last five and a half years, since September 2019. We currently issue around 23,000 real IDs a week, focusing on providing efficient services and ensuring that all eligible New Jerseys have it.”
