New Jersey Brings in Seasoned DMV Leader to Tackle Real ID Delays
The long wait for Real ID appointments is one of New Jersey drivers’ biggest complaints. The incoming governor is taking action. Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill has proposed Rosalie Johnson, a longtime Colorado motor vehicle administration expert, to lead the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission as Real ID license demand exceeds supply.
The nomination comes as many New Jersey residents struggle to secure Real ID appointments, which are now required for domestic plane travel unless a person has a U.S. passport. The day Johnson’s nomination was announced, the MVC’s scheduling system revealed very limited appointment availability, with only two sites having same-month appointments. The next open positions were weeks or months away for most agencies.
Johnson has over two decades of senior-level motor vehicle operations experience, which has impressed New Jersey executives. She was instrumental in helping Colorado achieve a 97% Real ID adoption rate among licensed drivers at the Department of Motor Vehicles. She oversaw big operational reforms to improve access, reduce wait times, and modernize public services.
Governor-elect Sherrill has stated that her administration will improve MVC citizens’ daily lives. She cited frequent complaints about the difficulties of arranging Real ID, vehicle inspection, and company license appointments. Sherrill wants to make real changes by hiring someone with DMV streamlining experience.
National attention has been paid to New Jersey’s Real ID numbers. The state had the lowest Real ID license rate, according to a recent analysis. Federal transportation experts predicted that few New Jersey drivers possessed one. The fact that New Jersey tops the nation in passport ownership has lowered the urgency for some citizens to transition to a Real ID license, according to state officials. The MVC office backlog continues to frustrate individuals who require the paperwork.
If confirmed, Johnson will confront larger obstacles than before. New Jersey has more licensed drivers than Colorado, and its MVC is administered by a different state department. Still, her high-volume system experience may be useful. In Colorado, she expanded self-service kiosks that allowed drivers to do common chores without visiting an office, handling hundreds of thousands of transactions every year.
Johnson has participated in automatic voter registration, mobile identification, and partnerships to ensure ex-offenders have valid identity beyond licensing. Her candidacy supporters believe her diverse background will provide her a fresh and realistic approach to MVC issues.
Johnson has promoted MVC employee collaboration and working family assistance in her public speeches. She wants to improve road safety and make Real ID more available across the state.
Residents who spend months refreshing appointment sites will watch attentively as New Jersey prepares for a new administration. Johnson’s ability to apply her earlier success to a larger and more complicated system may decide how quickly the state can overcome its Real ID bottleneck and restore public faith in the Motor Vehicle Commission.
Sources
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
Office of the Governor of New Jersey
Colorado Department of Revenue – Division of Motor Vehicles
Transportation Security Administration
