The May 7 federal deadline for REAL ID compliance is causing quite a stir among Illinois residents, leading to packed DMV offices and a scramble for the coveted identification. A new Real ID Supercenter and expanded weekend hours at various DMV locations across the state have been announced, according to Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, in a drive to better deal with the expected last-minute rush for IDs. In an effort to ease congestion, the Supercenter, located in Chicago's downtown Loop on North Clark Street, offers both appointment and non-appointment services from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Meanwhile, select DMV offices across the state have extended their Saturday hours, with many opening their doors for walk-in services while others are available by appointment only, as reported by WGN-TV.
Despite these provisions, miscommunication and misunderstandings have left many frustrated. With just weeks to go, Mark Jones, hoping to acquire his new ID, was one of those who showed up at the downtown Real ID Supercenter on Saturday only to find it unexpectedly closed. Driving in from Bellwood, he ended up spending $50 on parking without getting any closer to having his REAL ID in hand. Subsequently, upon visiting another DMV location on 99th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, he was informed that walk-ins wouldn't start until the afternoon. "I got up at a quarter to 6 a.m. and came all the way downtown, only to find out the place was closed," Jones told the Chicago Sun-Times about his disappointing experience.
While the new measures are being introduced to alleviate pressure at DMV locations, advisors like Scott Burnham, a spokesperson for the secretary of state’s office, are urging residents to take advantage of the resources available to them to avoid unnecessary trips and frustration. Burnham stressed the importance of checking online resources for REAL ID requirements and DMV facility specifics before visiting. "We strongly encourage everyone to check our website before heading to a facility," Burnham said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. He added that residents should "Know before you go," which means confirming whether a facility takes walk-ins or requires appointments.
Chicago West, being just one of 18 centers, has had its hours lengthened to manage increasing demand for real IDs. Tiffany Hunter, who returned to the center after being denied once for lack of proper documentation, echoed the sentiment of many residents when telling the Chicago Sun-Times, "Two things they could probably do better are improving timeliness with appointments and being very clear on what documents they do and do not accept so people don’t have to come to the walk-ins." Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has reminded Illinoisans that REAL IDs will continue to be available after the May 7 deadline, and not everyone will need one immediately. For those who don't obtain a REAL ID by the deadline, other forms of approved identification, like a passport, will still be accepted when boarding a plane. The battle against the clock and the lines is on, with just weeks left to become REAL ID-ready.
