Months after REAL ID penalties began, NJ is still expanding appointments
🔴 Hazlet, Turnersville and Wallington now offer REAL ID appointments through the NJ MVC.
📈 New Jersey has issued more than 350,000 REAL IDs since expanding access in April.
✈️ Travelers without compliant ID can face a $45 charge at airport security if they lack another accepted ID.
HAZLET — New Jersey is still expanding REAL ID capacity months after travelers began facing consequences for not having one.
Hazlet, Turnersville, and Wallington have been added to the list of Motor Vehicle Commission centers with available REAL ID appointments. The expansion follows the June addition of four other locations, including Medford, South Brunswick, Springfield, and Trenton.
"By adding appointments at three new locations this summer — on top of four added this spring — we are continuing to reduce wait times statewide and making it more convenient than ever for residents to get their REAL ID,’’ Acting NJMVC Chief Administrator Rosalie Johnson said.
More than 350,000 REAL IDs issued since April expansion
The Sherrill administration says it's been making headway against the problem it inherited. New Jersey has issued more than 350,000 REAL IDs since expanding access to the service in April, bringing the total number in circulation to about 2.7 million, according to the MVC.
The MVC has averaged 19,400 REAL IDs issued every week since that expansion, according to spokesman Jim Hooker.
In April, the MVC also began allowing customers to submit proof of residence electronically. Since then, the percentage of customers who must return for a second appointment has fallen from 15% to 8%, according to the agency.
The change prevents about 6,700 repeat transactions every month, officials said.
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Airport consequences began before New Jersey finished expanding access
Still, the progress comes months after travelers without a REAL ID began facing new consequences at airport security.
As of Feb. 1, domestic fliers without a REAL ID must pay a $45 fee before they can go through security. Passengers who remember to bring their passports or other accepted forms of identification may avoid the penalty.
Flying without Real ID? Here's what you need (TSA):
If you plan to fly or enter a federal facility but don't have a REAL ID you will need to have:
- State-issued Enhanced Driver's License
- U.S. passport
- U.S. passport card
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs).
- HSPD-12 PIV card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
- Transportation worker identification credential
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
- Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
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