Wait Times for Driver's Licenses Will Be Reduced: NJ Gov. Christie

What to Know

  • Gov. Christie announced at a Motor Vehicle Commission Office in Randolph that transaction fees for online services will end by Oct. 1.
  • Christie said many MVC employees have completed customer service training, as he mandated in April for all employees within a year.
  • He also announced that beginning in 2017, two mobile units will be deployed in the event of any "unforeseen agency outages."

Gov. Christie announced initiatives Wednesday to reduce the time New Jersey drivers spend in line at motor vehicle offices to get their driver's licenses or for other services.

The Republican governor announced at a Motor Vehicle Commission Office in Randolph that transaction fees for online services will end by Oct. 1, and he called on the Democrat-majority Legislature to change the expiration date for driver's licenses from the end of the month to the driver's birth date.

Christie said many MVC employees have completed customer service training, as he mandated in April for all employees within a year. And he also announced that beginning in 2017, two mobile units will be deployed in the event of any "unforeseen agency outages."

The governor said the Motor Vehicle Commission in addition is working with AAA to expand customer access through the auto club's offices.

"All of these things are designed to make the experience better," Christie said. "My experience has been you never want to go to MVC. ... Nobody looks at it as something that they build their week or month around. We want to try to make this as easy as possible for folks."

Christie said the changes are a response to customer service complaints and a computer problem that caused backups. It also came after an I-Team investigation chronicled the massive headaches at MVC offices. 

He said eliminating the fees, in particular, would encourage motorists to use computers instead of making the trip to a motor vehicle office.

Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto said in a statement that he would review the governor's proposal to change the expiration date, but said the date is not the cause of delays. He blamed the administration for closing MVC offices in Elizabeth, Wyckoff and Bridgeton, and said the governor failed to update technology.

In June, Christie established the office of chief technology officer, naming David Weinstein in charge of bringing the state's computer systems in line with the private sector.

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