As the May 7 Real ID deadline looms, Las Vegas residents are facing significant delays at DMV offices, leading to a host of frustrations and challenges in securing essential services.
Georgiana Rosenzweig recently encountered a pressing issue when she realized her driver’s license was nearing expiration, and making a timely appointment for renewal proved impossible.
Describing her situation, Rosenzweig stated, “I went to Sam’s Club and got four cases of water and anything I would need that was freezeable so that I could be sequestered at home for six weeks.”
Her preparations were not due to a pandemic but rather the bureaucratic hurdles she faced in renewing her license.
Expressing her feelings of frustration, Rosenzweig shared, “I feel it was like being bullied. That’s the feeling I got. It was like, this is it, no options, go home, deal with it.”
When she received her renewal notice by mail, Rosenzweig attempted to complete the renewal process online, only to find out she was ineligible.
“She was over 71, which means that you do have to come into an office and get that renewal done in person just so that she could get administered an eye test,” explained DMV spokesperson Hailey Foster.
After being turned away at her local DMV office, Rosenzweig was left frustrated.
She recalled, “And she said, ‘Well, we will not see anybody. There’s no walk-ins anymore at the DMV; you have to have an appointment.'”
Due to high temperatures, the DMV suspended walk-in services last summer, according to Foster, as they wanted to avoid customers waiting outside.
Although the scorching summer heat has passed, walk-ins have not returned, despite the DMV recognizing their importance.
Foster stated, “We do know that those walk-ins were crucial.”
To manage appointments, the DMV releases approximately 600 openings each Tuesday at 8 p.m. for the following Wednesday across metro offices. Rosenzweig attempted this option using a QR code provided by the DMV.
“Oh my goodness! I got onto the website, and it said you are number 5,000. I just couldn’t believe it. I thought I was reading wrong,” she exclaimed.
After 90 minutes of waiting online, Rosenzweig discovered that the earliest appointment she could secure was at the end of May—six weeks after her license would expire.
Upset by this reality, she mentioned, “That’s six weeks after my license expires, and what am I going to do?” Consulting with neighbors, she learned some individuals had resorted to driving without a license due to similar frustrations.
“So, of course, I was upset. That’s six weeks after my license expires, and what am I going to do?” she added.
Foster attributed the extensive backlog to the surge of last-minute customers seeking Real ID services ahead of the impending deadline, intensifying delays for others needing in-person services.
“A renewal appointment is grouped in with a generic driver’s license or ID appointment, so they kind of do fill out a little bit quickly now that the deadline is right around the corner,” she explained.
When questioned about how someone might secure a timely appointment, Foster acknowledged the difficulties.
“Yeah, that’s, again, the hardest part. I would just say people cancel their appointments all the time,” she advised.
Her recommendations included checking the DMV website frequently for cancellations, aiming for the first appointment of the day, and ensuring that the service required in-person attendance.
Rosenzweig believes the current system is unacceptable.
“That’s fine if they want to make appointments, but you have to be able to get them in a timely fashion,” Rosenzweig argued.
After she reached out regarding her troubles, I was able to assist Rosenzweig in securing a next-day appointment, enabling her to renew her license before it expired.
Reflecting on the assistance she received, Rosenzweig said, “If it wasn’t for you bypassing that system, I would be — I wouldn’t be able to drive here today.”
When asked for her message to the DMV, she stated plainly, “Open up your doors and let people come in and service them.”
In efforts to address the situation, starting Tuesday, the DMV is implementing some changes. Customers requiring a Real ID can visit any Nevada DMV office without an appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 4 p.m. until May 15.
These walk-in spots are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis until the office reaches its capacity.
image source from：https://www.ktnv.com/13-investigates/whats-the-deal/dmv-appointment-backlog-leaves-las-vegas-residents-stranded-as-real-id-deadline-approaches
