The state Bureau of Motor Vehicles continues to witness record consumer activity months after the REAL ID deadline in May.
Nearly one-third of Mainers with a driver’s license, according to Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, have a REAL ID, but she anticipates that demand will only increase.
The REAL ID is the choice of roughly 66% of Mainers who are now looking for a driver’s license or identification. We may anticipate that roughly 66% of Mainers will eventually possess a Real ID, Bellows stated.
Bellows stated that she anticipates the BMV will continue to be busy and encourages individuals to schedule an appointment prior to visiting their local office. If someone is unable to attend, she is also urging them to cancel.
“You should expect to wait a little bit longer than you did last summer if you don’t have an appointment. Depending on the time of day, Bellows stated, “unprecedented customer traffic means longer wait times, so bring a book, games on your phone, or whatever you might be doing.”
90% of Mainers going through TSA in airports, according to Bellows, are presenting a REAL ID, and the remaining 10% are still permitted to travel since enforcement is being implemented slowly.
