Oregon DMVs fill up as Real ID deadline approaches

PORTLAND, Ore (KOIN) -- With the deadline to have a Real ID now less than two weeks away, record-breaking lines have formed at DMVs across the state.

The line was wrapped around the building at the Beaverton DMV, with officials telling KOIN 6 News they are seeing an additional 10,000 people a week across the state.

On Friday, dozens waited for their number to be called, with some sitting for close to five hours before being seen. Others even ran errands to pass the time.

"We've been waiting probably since about 8:37 and we just got up there and got done by 11:00," customer Jennifer Plank told KOIN 6 News.

The Beaverton location isn't the exception, as just under 40% of eligible Oregonians have gotten their Real ID. This has created a bottleneck effect with people rushing to get in before the May 7 deadline.

Staffing shortages also continue to be an issue and DMW officials say they need an additional 100 positions across the state. But currently, only three jobs are posted online and officials add funding is just not there from the state to appropriately staff the 58 offices.

"A lot of the times you'll see an office closed because of staffing," noted DMW employee Chris Crabb. "Some of our offices only have like, two or three people manning them in the smaller areas. So if you have someone call out there, then you'll close that one and you'll send those people to a bigger office to help relieve the pressure."

Until the Real ID deadline passes, DMV staff is requesting those that need something else to do it online.

"Every time someone else isn't here, that just makes the wait time shorter for everyone who has to be here," Crabb noted.

Officials further say that, just because you get a ticket in line, it doesn't mean you're going to be called before they close.

For example, the Beaverton DMV line closed at 2 p.m. Friday to try to make sure everyone could be seen.