The clock is ticking for people who have not yet gotten their REAL ID. With the October 1, 2020 deadline looming, MDOT MVA has created 1,200 additional weekly appointments to help ease the inevitable rush.
Officials say the new Walnut Hill location will give Montgomery County residents additional appointment opportunities each week to help meet the federally mandated REAL ID requirement and other driver’s licensing needs before the deadline.
Located at 16516 S. Westland Drive in the Walnut Hill Shopping Center next to the MDOT MVA Walnut Hill branch office in Gaithersburg, the new 3,000-square-foot space will include 11 stations for REAL ID and other driver’s licensing transactions. Fifteen new staff positions were created, and officials say the additional appointments nearly double the total number of appointments available at the Walnut Hill branch office and Walnut Hill Annex to about 2,300 per week.
According to a press release, hours for both offices are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; and 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. The offices also have temporarily extended hours on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
“We are always looking for new and innovative ways to help people conduct their MDOT MVA business as quickly and efficiently as possible,” said MDOT MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer. “I encourage all Marylanders to schedule an appointment for their REAL ID and driver’s licensing needs. Customers are guaranteed to be seen within 15 minutes of their scheduled appointment time.”
Officials say similar spaces were opened in Columbia and Parkville last year in an effort to help expand access to appointments.
“We’re proud to say 62 percent of Montgomery County residents are REAL ID compliant, which is the second highest jurisdiction in Maryland,” said Administrator Nizer. “With less than nine months until the federal REAL ID deadline of October 2020, we are excited to open this additional capacity for residents who are not yet compliant to make a REAL ID appointment and receive a premier customer service experience.”
Marylanders can check their REAL ID status by entering a driver’s license or identification card number into the REAL ID Lookup Tool on the MDOT MVA website, realid.mva.maryland.gov. If required to bring in documents, customers can visit mva.maryland.gov/odg to identify and collect the needed documents and to schedule an appointment.
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