NJ Congressman Presses MVC to Expand Real ID Access as TSA Fee Deadline Nears
One member of Congress is encouraging state officials to act swiftly to get New Jersey drivers a Real ID before new airport identification check costs start later this month.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer has formally requested that the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission expand Real ID appointments statewide. Gottheimer wrote Acting MVC Chief Administrator Rosalie Johnson on Feb. 6 to boost statewide appointment capacity, extend evening and weekend hours, implement mobile and pop-up services, and investigate additional solutions to help residents obtain compliant identification.
Before a new TSA enforcement measure, the request occurred. Airport checkpoints may charge $45 for identity verification without valid identification starting Feb. 15. For people without a Real ID–compliant driver’s license or another acceptable form of identification, the extra fee may effect them.
Gottheimer said New Jersey has the lowest Real ID compliance percentage. As of last spring, only 17% of residents have a Real ID. Many North Jersey residents have complained about scheduling appointments, the congressman added.
MVC website indicates over 17,000 open Real ID appointment openings statewide. Even so, availability is spotty. Only three agencies offer March appointments, while 20 offer May dates. There are almost 121,000 appointments for license renewals and Real ID upgrades, but only for drivers whose licenses expire within three months.
Gottheimer said Acting Chief Johnson took over command lately. In January, Governor Mikie Sherrill nominated Johnson, citing her expertise as deputy senior director at Colorado’s Department of Motor Vehicles, where Real ID compliance reached 97%. Gottheimer acknowledged Johnson’s challenges but stressed that the state must act quickly to save residents from falling behind.
The new MVC acting chief has started assessing operations, officials say. According to commission spokesperson William Connolly, Johnson is undertaking an on-the-ground evaluation and will start a comprehensive, data-driven review to improve Real ID issuance and operations. Real ID processing remains a priority, although some customers are still experiencing delays.
Over the past year, the MVC has adopted many programs to increase access and processes more than 20,000 new Real IDs each week. Officials also said the commission will reply to Gottheimer’s letter.
As federal Real ID laws take effect, services are being expanded. Since May 7, 2025, 18-year-old domestic flight travelers must present Real ID Act of 2005-compliant identification. State ID cards, U.S. passports, Global Entry cards, and Real ID–compliant driver’s licenses are accepted.
Many New Jerseyans use passports for federal travel. However, passports are costly and take weeks to process. Gottheimer remarked that this simplifies Real ID licenses for working families and infrequent travelers.
Federal officials report that 98% of Newark Liberty International Airport travelers have compliant ID. New York City TSA Federal Security Director Thomas Carter said most travelers still use passports, but the number of passengers with Real ID–compliant licenses is rising. Although progress has been made, 200 people per day still enter without proper identification, slowing security checkpoints.
TSA said many of them travelers are casual or infrequent flyers who may not know the increased standards. Compliance increased over holidays as more travelers presented Real ID-compliant documentation.
As of now, New Jersey must balance airport compliance with limited appointment access. State lawmakers believe that residents should not be penalized for missing an appointment because most passengers have valid identification.
The Feb. 15 TSA fee deadline is putting pressure on the MVC to increase service capacity and close the compliance deficit. State authorities are being pressured to give every eligible motorist a Real ID before travel costs rise, whether through extended hours, mobile services, or other operational changes.
Sources
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
Transportation Security Administration
Office of U.S. Rep. Josh
