Frustration mounts for many waiting at the DMV

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Long lines wrapped around the building. No available appointments to avoid it. Department of Motor Vehicles offices across West Tennessee are swamped right now.

It’s an issue many of you brought to WREG Investigators’ attention.

“It’s just a mess,” Darrell Davis said as he stood in line. “Will wait probably three or four hours. That’s what I’m thinking. My parents came up here. They are 80 years old and had to wait five hours.”

Two people behind him in line was Ailia Michelle.

“I’m prepared to wait more because it’s the DMV. You’re going to be here three to four hours on a good day,” she said.

That Friday morning at the end of June, we witnessed massive waits and long lines. People were prepared. They brought umbrellas for shade and camping chairs to sit in. Anything to make their wait more manageable.

People continue to scramble to get their Real IDs. The TSA started requiring them to fly in May. Then add that to the normal load at the DMV.

“This is ridiculous. I have never seen the line this long,” said one woman in line. She was trying to help her daughter get her ID, so her daughter could get her paycheck.

“She actually works, so she has to get her check and needs her ID,” she said.

Renea Johnson told us it was the third day she’d tried to get her license reinstated. She misses work every time, too.

“I have been standing in this line since Wednesday. Every time I come, it’s a line,” Johnson said. “You get tired of driving around with no license. You try to do the right thing, but the right thing is never enough.”

Johnson told us she tried to book an appointment but couldn’t find availability. When we checked, we noticed some availability for license reinstatement, but not a single one available in all of West Tennessee for a Real ID.

It’s been like that every time we’ve checked over the last several weeks.

“I got one in Savannah, and I didn’t realize it was two hours away,” Audrey Kelsey said.

She just moved here from Missouri. This was her second attempt to try to change her address and renew her license.

After scoping the scene, she decided to try again. Her new plan was going to be to arrive at 6 a.m. the next day, which is three hours before the office opens.

“I had a heat stroke at one point, so I feel like I can’t sit or stand out in the heat this time of the year,” Kelsey said.

With the sun blazing and the summer heat picking up, we saw staff try to get as many as they could into the cool building when they finally opened.

A state spokesperson told us there is still greater than normal volume at driver service centers, but that volume appears to be decreasing.

“To help alleviate the increased volume across the state, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security added additional appointments, increased service hours, and hosted special REAL ID only Saturday events. The Saturday events began in March and ended in June,” stated Charmaine McNeilly, Deputy Director of Communications for the TN Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

The state suggested going online to try to book an appointment to save time, but again, nothing is available on our side of the state.

McNeilly added, “Appointments are available 90 days out. New appointment slots open every week. Tennesseans can visit any center and there may be appointments available at some of the more rural Driver Services Centers across the state.”

As of mid-May, the state reported more than 3 million Tennesseans obtained their Real ID, which is over half of Tennessee’s licensed drivers.

“I really think Tennessee should do better,” Kelsey said.

As the others work to get theirs, it seems this may be the new normal for now.

What are your options?

Some local law enforcement agencies have recently posted about new self-service kiosks installed at precincts where people can renew, replace or change an address. For more information: click here.

You can also check wait times before you go: click here and scroll down until you see the first map.

You can also get an e-ticket, which is a virtual way to place yourself in line for services at a Driver Services Center. For more information: click here.

To try to schedule an appointment: click here.

Make sure you have the right documentation for a Real ID: click here.