NJ MVC The return of waiting lines.

I drove by Springfield MVC this morning. The photo below is of the line at 10:15. They are waiting outside for the privilege of going inside to wait in another line to transact their business. Things are now worse than before McGreevy's reform.

These lines have been forming outside for a couple of months. Instead of being Trump's lapdog, Christie should fix this.

What happened to cause this problem?

Don't know the cause. I encountered it several times in the last couple of months.

I heard they are letting less people wait inside.  This is an issue for me.  I am disabled and can't wait in long lines even sitting, especially in the sun.  My handicap parking renewal form said to go there to renew.  I tried contacting them about the issue to request a disability accommodation under ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), but only got the run around.  Luckily I found online that you can actually mail the form it.  I lucked out the last 2 times I went to renew my license and there was not much of a line, but if it stays like this I will likely have a problem next time.

And, I might still have to go for my handicap parking anyway. Instead of sending the new placard and ID, they sent me someone else's application that was incorrectly filled out with instructions to correct it.   I've contacted the head of the MVC about these issues directly and am waiting for a response...I might have to get Christie to come with me.

When I froze in this line back in December, I was told that the fire marshal had reduced the number of people who could be in the building at one time, and thus the line outside. At least it's warm now, you whiners!

They were helpful to a little old lady when I was there. They let her go straight inside and sit in the chairs. 

jmitw said:

I heard they are letting less people wait inside.  This is an issue for me.  I am disabled and can't wait in long lines even sitting, especially in the sun.  My handicap parking renewal form said to go there to renew.  I tried contacting them about the issue to request a disability accommodation under ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), but only got the run around.  Luckily I found online that you can actually mail the form it.  I lucked out the last 2 times I went to renew my license and there was not much of a line, but if it stays like this I will likely have a problem next time.

And, I might still have to go for my handicap parking anyway. Instead of sending the new placard and ID, they sent me someone else's application that was incorrectly filled out with instructions to correct it.   I've contacted the head of the MVC about these issues directly and am waiting for a response...I might have to get Christie to come with me.

Take your handicapped tag inside to the desk.  They give you a number and accommodate you during your wait.

They have to make provisions for handicapped persons and they are aware of it.

went by on thursday to renew a registration. Took one look at the line (got there late im usually there right when they open) and said um no. Drove to the dmv in south plainfield in the golden arches shopping plaza by wendy's and unique. Was in and out in 5 minutes. Apparently christie was there an hour or so before my arrival helping a young man get his permit renewed. I dont think ill ever go back to springfield again.

When we went to one in or near Manahawkin to register a car it was in and out in 10 minutes. Of course, I wouldn't go all the way down there just to go to the DMV.

Formerlyjerseyjack said:

jmitw said:

I heard they are letting less people wait inside.  This is an issue for me.  I am disabled and can't wait in long lines even sitting, especially in the sun.  My handicap parking renewal form said to go there to renew.  I tried contacting them about the issue to request a disability accommodation under ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), but only got the run around.  Luckily I found online that you can actually mail the form it.  I lucked out the last 2 times I went to renew my license and there was not much of a line, but if it stays like this I will likely have a problem next time.

And, I might still have to go for my handicap parking anyway. Instead of sending the new placard and ID, they sent me someone else's application that was incorrectly filled out with instructions to correct it.   I've contacted the head of the MVC about these issues directly and am waiting for a response...I might have to get Christie to come with me.

Take your handicapped tag inside to the desk.  They give you a number and accommodate you during your wait.




They have to make provisions for handicapped persons and they are aware of it.

sure could fool me...they just blew me off when i called to ask

Freeway said:

went by on thursday to renew a registration. Took one look at the line (got there late im usually there right when they open) and said um no. Drove to the dmv in south plainfield in the golden arches shopping plaza by wendy's and unique. Was in and out in 5 minutes. Apparently christie was there an hour or so before my arrival helping a young man get his permit renewed. I dont think ill ever go back to springfield again.

I've been in that area a number of times..going to Unique...and there is always a line out the door..it is usually at night..I'm guessing their late night

jmitw said:

Formerlyjerseyjack said:

jmitw said:

I heard they are letting less people wait inside.  This is an issue for me.  I am disabled and can't wait in long lines even sitting, especially in the sun.  My handicap parking renewal form said to go there to renew.  I tried contacting them about the issue to request a disability accommodation under ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), but only got the run around.  Luckily I found online that you can actually mail the form it.  I lucked out the last 2 times I went to renew my license and there was not much of a line, but if it stays like this I will likely have a problem next time.

And, I might still have to go for my handicap parking anyway. Instead of sending the new placard and ID, they sent me someone else's application that was incorrectly filled out with instructions to correct it.   I've contacted the head of the MVC about these issues directly and am waiting for a response...I might have to get Christie to come with me.

Take your handicapped tag inside to the desk.  They give you a number and accommodate you during your wait.




They have to make provisions for handicapped persons and they are aware of it.

sure could fool me...they just blew me off when i called to ask

I went inside as preparation for my friend's visit. I had the supervisor called and reminded him of A.D.A. responsibilities. He said it would be taken care of when my friend went in.

Even the courts refuse to adhere to ADA.  I wanted to file a small claims case.  At the time I couldn't even sit upright for 15 minutes (i actually had bruises on my arms from bracing myself against a table/desk trying to sit up) and couldn't get out of the house early enough for the start of court...the court absolutely refused to discuss any accommodations, even after I sent them numerous official documents (state judiciary directives) indicating that scheduling my case in a short time frame later in the day was a required accommodation (ie next case to be heard after 11am).   I could have waited in the car reclining from about 10:45 until it was time for my case..they could have called me to tell me it was almost time to come in...but they absolutely refused to consider it.  Had a similar experience with Federal tax court..luckily their lawyer dropped the case when i proved how idiotic their agents were and had no clue what they were doing..and my taxes were correct (actually I found a few more dollars they owed me from some receipts I forget to deduct..but I didn't fight over that).  Another time I had an issue where I had re registered my car online--saved the confirmation...but while waiting for the registration to come in the mail, my car got flagged for being unregistered....the municipal court adamantly refused to discuss ADA accommodations....so even though it was an MVC screw up...I had to pay the ticket.  They actually said they had wheelchair access so they don't see what the problem is....great, but I can walk and can even walk up a flight of stairs..but I can't even sit through a movie in a comfortable chair...i can't physically sit in a court room for a few hours.  There is a county ADA coordinator for the courts that agreed with the court that all I needed was wheelchair access.....so I have no faith in anyone following the law....I have many more stories of blatant violations in employment, housing, college, etc

sure, i filed official complaints...18 months later, i get a form letter from USDOJ saying they don't have the resources to investigate and since I can't afford a lawyer I am out of luck....and i would assume these people violating the law know they have a good chance of getting away with it.

Unfortunately, "reasonable accommodation" does not always equal the accommodation one would like.  If you can't sit for long periods of time but can manage stairs, the response might be that there is nothing to prevent you from getting up and walking in back of the court room from time to time to relieve the pressure of sitting. 

jmitw said:

Freeway said:

went by on thursday to renew a registration. Took one look at the line (got there late im usually there right when they open) and said um no. Drove to the dmv in south plainfield in the golden arches shopping plaza by wendy's and unique. Was in and out in 5 minutes. Apparently christie was there an hour or so before my arrival helping a young man get his permit renewed. I dont think ill ever go back to springfield again.

I've been in that area a number of times..going to Unique...and there is always a line out the door..it is usually at night..I'm guessing their late night

There were a ton of people there for things like license issuing and renewal. The wait for that could have easily been 2 or more hours. There were about 50 people in line for their 6 points (some waiting for points checks others on the other side of the counter in a holding area waiting for processing) Titles and registrations had no line and there was an older guy "directing traffic" as soon as I walked in . "Whadda here for partner? Registration? You're next!" as he pointed to the empty line. 4 windows with 1 employee in each window waiting for customers. 

I'm sure there are times when the line is down the block. The parking at SP is 1000x easier than at springfield and that alone is worth the trip. In all honesty i might not have too many more dmv runs to make, my overseas move is still pending.

jmitw, do you have anyone that can go for you? You don't need to be present for the handicapped placard registration.

On Friday, I emailed the Ledger about the Springfield problem. Lets see if they are interested.

Gah, my license expires next month. 

Last two times I was in and out of Springfield in no time at all. Maybe too many people talked about it. That's why I won't tell anyone my back route to and from the beach unless we're close friends. 

kenboy said:

Gah, my license expires next month. 

Last two times I was in and out of Springfield in no time at all. Maybe too many people talked about it. That's why I won't tell anyone my back route to and from the beach unless we're close friends. 

I'm going to the beach today, using the back route. Emery's anybody?

My husband went to Springfield to renew his license in February as the form in the mail said it needed to be done in person. He was there for a couple of hours. I don't know why the lines were so long, but I can tell you that they did the six point check twice. This wasn't just for him, this was every person who was renewing. If this is a regular thing then that could explain some of the slowdown. Having the workers who were double checking the six points do actual processing instead would make more sense.  

joan_crystal said:

Unfortunately, "reasonable accommodation" does not always equal the accommodation one would like.  If you can't sit for long periods of time but can manage stairs, the response might be that there is nothing to prevent you from getting up and walking in back of the court room from time to time to relieve the pressure of sitting. 

It is much more than just relieving the pressure..I assure you that the accommodations I requested were reasonable and actually 1 part of it specifically mentioned in judiciary directives...which the court refused to adhere to....and with just that one part I might have been okay, but with the added accommodation of allowing me to wait in my car with the seat reclined until my case was next would have been better.  The law actually says that the court must grant my request or show why they can't...they just said NO...never explained why....that in of itself is illegal.  I just can't physically sustain any activity..i couldn't hold myself upright more than 15 minutes at a time at the worst point..sitting or standing..while it is improving..i still struggle to be out of the house for about 12 hours per week..and that is mostly doctor, shoprite a few times per week for bananas and other groceries, going through the drive thru for a hot meal since I can't function long enough to cook much and then clean afterward... long day out for me averages about 5 hours on my good days with rest breaks..but most days out is only about 2 hours as I just can't sustain longer than that....I can't depend on being able to function up to 5 hours on any given day...i need to be prepared for 2 hours max...and that includes travel time.

marylago said:

jmitw, do you have anyone that can go for you? You don't need to be present for the handicapped placard registration.

no one needs to be present...they should just do it  by mail...but they screwed that up....i can't even depend on a friend/ neighbor to take out the garbage for me...numerous times people have said they would help me out in various ways and never did..and in one case became severely abusive while he was supposedly helping me..to the point of committing a felony level crime...but since the courts insist ADA does not apply to them, I can't pursue criminal charges against him.

jmitw said:

marylago said:

jmitw, do you have anyone that can go for you? You don't need to be present for the handicapped placard registration.

no one needs to be present...they should just do it  by mail...but they screwed that up....i can't even depend on a friend/ neighbor to take out the garbage for me...numerous times people have said they would help me out in various ways and never did..and in one case became severely abusive while he was supposedly helping me..to the point of committing a felony level crime...but since the courts insist ADA does not apply to them, I can't pursue criminal charges against him.

I'm very sorry you don't have a strong advocate. I was my husband's and I know he was grateful for it. 

Returning plates was a breeze. They do it at the info desk. Under 5 minutes.

This morning was a complete mess.  Two hours to renew a drivers license.  One hour waiting in line outside.  One hour sitting inside. 

Security guard said this is pretty standard every day at this point. 

off topic, sorry:
I moved out of state about a year ago, registered and insured my car at my new address. It never occurred to me that I should return the NJ plates. 

Am I in trouble? I don't have any plans to be in NJ any time soon. If I just toss them in the mail are they going to fine me or something, since it's been so long?

Don't come back, they may arrest you. 

I've had plates for years that I never returned and I'm still walking around, I wouldn't worry too much.

ril said:

off topic, sorry:
I moved out of state about a year ago, registered and insured my car at my new address. It never occurred to me that I should return the NJ plates. 

Am I in trouble? I don't have any plans to be in NJ any time soon. If I just toss them in the mail are they going to fine me or something, since it's been so long?

Nah! I wouldn't bother returning them even if I were in state. The last couple of sets I had returned was because the person who bought the vehicle volunteered and because I bought a new car and the dealership returned them. I'm a scofflaw...

Your major problem would be if the plates were stolen by a nefarious character and use for toll avoidance or in a crime. The chances of that are unlikely.

Mail them to Trenton, U.S.P.S. insured and certified.  Or just get a pair of metal cutters and cut them up and put them out for recycling.

I had old plates sitting in my pantry for at least 4 years.  They took them back without a problem and just threw them in the pile.

Or hang them in your garage like I do.