North Carolina DMV offices inundated with Real ID on horizon

RALEIGH, N.C. — Summer is traditionally busy for the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, but offices have been inundated this year with new federal identification requirements on the horizon.

DMV Commissioner Torre Jessup said many standing in lines stretching outside offices are there to obtain a Real ID, a driver's license that meets new federal identification requirements.

[South Carolina begins issuing Real ID-compliant cards]

[17 states granted extension for REAL ID compliance; Driver's license OK for domestic travel]

Starting in October 2020, people will need such an ID or two forms of identification to board commercial airliners in the United States.

The DMV estimates up to 4 million North Carolina residents will need a Real ID, and has been urging people to not wait until 2020 to get one. Around 600,000 have gotten one so far.

Jessup says the DMV has 80 vacant positions and no money to open news offices this year, contributing to the long wait times.

Associated Press