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As the May 7 deadline for REAL ID approaches, Dutchess County Clerk Brad Kendall is urging residents to make appointments at local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offices to avoid long wait times. The increased demand for REAL ID-compliant licenses has led to a surge in walk-ins, causing wait times to exceed two hours in some cases. Kendall emphasizes that while walk-ins are welcome, scheduling an appointment online will provide a more efficient experience.
The Poughkeepsie DMV office will open on Saturday, March 29, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to accommodate the high volume of customers seeking to upgrade their licenses. According to Dutchess County's website, this office will be the only location open that day for processing license and registration transactions.
The federal REAL ID law requires enhanced security for state-issued identification to board domestic flights starting May 7. To help meet the demand, the New York State DMV is expanding appointment slots and extending hours in various locations, including Long Island, New York City, and Westchester County. Newsday reports that the DMV has increased opportunities for obtaining REAL ID licenses, with new Thursday and Saturday hours in some offices.
Residents are encouraged to visit the Dutchess County DMV website to make reservations and find a list of acceptable documents needed for obtaining a REAL ID. Appointments are strongly recommended to ensure a smoother process and reduce wait times.