DMV lines grow as Real IDs arrive

Motorists were greeted with unusually long lines Monday as the Department of Motor Vehicles began issuing its Advanced Secure Issuance cards at the West Flamingo Road office.

Although obtaining a Real ID is not required by law just yet, clerks made sure those who want the new driver's licenses had the proper paperwork, a process that made for longer lines at the information desk. It took about 30 minutes to 45 minutes to get through that initial line on Monday.

"The information line is a lot longer because they are typing in a lot of information up front and reviewing documents," DMV spokesman Kevin Malone said. "The other side of the coin is that after you visit the information desk, the wait (to see a clerk) is shorter."

This program will be phased in over seven years. If you were born before Dec. 1, 1964, the standard license in your wallet will be good until December 2017. If your birthday is after Dec. 1, 1964, you have until December 2014. Your standard driver's license will be accepted to board airplanes and enter federal buildings until the 2014 or 2017 deadline.

Those who wish to renew their standard license will need only that license. Those who wish to acquire the Real ID will need two forms of identification such as a U.S. passport, a Social Security card or certified birth certificate. You also need to prove your residency with two documents such as a utility bill, phone bill, rental agreement or mortgage statements.

Malone said the process Monday was fairly smooth.

"We have technicians walking the lines to tell people what they need and pre-screen them before they get to the counter," Malone said. "By and large, it's running pretty smooth. We learned a lot from Carson City."

The DMV began offering the northern part of the state the identification cards earlier this month.

The West Flamingo office is the first in Southern Nevada to roll out the new cards. They will be available at the North Las Vegas office on Donovan Way today, the Henderson office on American Pacific Drive on Wednesday, the North Las Vegas facility on Decatur Boulevard on Thursday and the East Sahara Avenue office Friday.

Contact reporter Adrienne Packer at apacker@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904.