Fed. Requirements Causing Drivers’ Licenses Delays

In 2005, Congress passed the REAL ID Act; 7 years later, the effects are being felt in Wyoming.

According to the state transportation department, federal security requirements are causing longer wait times for people getting drivers' licenses.  The department says new licenses are taking twice the time they previously did and renewals of licenses are taking longer time as well.  The department says this is due to the larger workload from scanning documents and inspecting the increased amount of required paperwork.

The REAL ID Act deemed it mandatory for at least four different pieces of documentation to be used for a license to be issued.

The workload has grown so much that the department has requested five new positions to work in drivers' license offices.

Sighting a desire to minimize government, Governor Matt Mead has recommended only two new positions and transferring one person from within the department to one of the field offices.