Bucco laments long lines at MVC

State Sen. Anthony Bucco (R-Boonton) lamented long lines at the Motor Vehicle Commission Tuesday.

“It is exasperating,” Bucco said. “Agencies have been shut down for months, and there are significant backlogs of renewals and transactions that must be completed. I as much as predicted this two months ago, and I asked the commission for a plan. They ignored me. They ignored New Jersey residents, and this is the result.”

In May, Bucco sent a letter to MVC Chief Administrator Sue Fulton urging her to up staffing levels or move some of the agency’s services online to avoid hours-long lines that have formed outside of MVC locations in numerous towns across the state after the agency began processing license renewals Tuesday.

“Clearly, they have no plan,” Bucco said. “Look at the situation. The lines are horrendous. They had to know this was coming. I warned them and everybody knew it. This is a failure of leadership from the top down, and New Jersey residents deserve better.”

The senator suggested the agency further delay expirations for licenses. Currently, licenses that expired between March 13 and May 31 are good until the end of July. Licenses that expired in June don’t have to be renewed until August 31, and ones expiring this month have been extended until September 30.

“MVC is overwhelmed and understaffed,” Bucco said. “This should have been handled better, but for now, let’s push the pause button and buy some time. People shouldn’t have to put their health at risk and waste a day to renew their paperwork.”