The implementation of the Real ID Act began on Jan. 1 of this year and is causing long waits, up to four hours, at the Utah Department of Motor Vehicles (D.M.V.). The Real I.D. Act puts into place new identification requirements when getting an ID card, a driver’s license for the first time, or renewing a driver’s license.
In order to speed up the process, Governor Herbert announced that the D.M.V. located in Draper would be open on Fridays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. However, this elimination of the Draper D.M.V.’s four-day workweek is temporary. Another service that has been put in place to help with wait times is an estimated wait time page online; this estimated time page encompasses Wasatch Front locations.
Chairs are limited in the waiting area of the West Valley City D.M.V., the busiest D.M.V. in Utah, during peak hours. Applicants stare expectantly at the sign announcing the next number to be helped.
Despite long wait times applicants must now provide documentation from four categories: Legal/Lawful Presence or Status Evidence; Identity Verification; Social Security Number (S.S.N.) or proof of ineligibility to obtain S.S.N. or Individual Tax Identification Number (I.T.I.N.). This is an increase of documentation is aimed at screening people who are in the United States illegally.
Document requirements are further complicated by the fact that it changes depending on whether or not applicants are seeking a regular or limited term license. Regular licensing includes people seeking a new driver license or renewing their driver license.
Documentation that qualifies as Legal/Lawful Presence or Status Evidence (for regular I.D.) includes valid U.S. passport, certified birth certificate, valid Permanent Resident Card, Certificate of Naturalization, or a Certificate of Citizenship. Documents used for Legal/Lawful Presence or Status Evidence can be used for Identity Verification as well.
S.S.N. or proof of ineligibility to obtain S.S.N. or I.T.I.N. documents is social security card, W-2 form, pay stub showing name and S.S.N., or an SSA-1099 form. However, Commercial Driver License applicants must have a social security card. Applicants must provide two Utah Residency Verification documents. Residency verification must display applicants’ address and can include utility bills, recent bank statement, valid Utah vehicle registration or court documents. Only one of these two documents can be printed from the internet.
The D.M.V. will scan all documentation, which will be put into a secure system. The D.M.V. suggests that all applicants look at estimated wait times and gather necessary documentation before going to the D.M.V.