Traffic & Transit

Gargantuan Line At Newark MVC As Locations Across NJ Reopen

A Twitter user said it was a "mob scene" at a Motor Vehicle Commission center in Newark. "You need to do better," they wrote.

A line reportedly stretched several blocks at a Motor Vehicle Commission center in Newark, NJ on July 7.
A line reportedly stretched several blocks at a Motor Vehicle Commission center in Newark, NJ on July 7. (Google Maps)

NEWARK, NJ — A huge line reportedly stretched several blocks outside a Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) center in Newark on Tuesday, as the state rolled out its latest effort to reopen from the coronavirus.

New Jersey MVC centers, which had been closed for in-person services due to COVID-19, had a rocky reawakening on Tuesday. Long lines were seen at MVC locations all over New Jersey, with many people experiencing waits that lasted hours.

The MVC at 228 Frelinghuysen Avenue in Newark saw a line that stretched all the way to East Peddie Street about three blocks away, NorthJersey FireNews tweeted, sharing a photo taken at the scene.

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Other social media users also reported the same. According to one Twitter user:

“Wow, @NJ_MVC in Newark NJ is a complete mob [scene], 3K+ people waiting outside to be seen. @GovMurphy you need to do better and organize a system here, institute odds and evens or something. At the very least you need cops to keep the crowds safe.”

The agency tweeted its own statement about Tuesday's issues.

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As part of the state’s reopening plan, MVC locations were designated as either “vehicle centers” or “licensing centers,” with limited services at each. (Learn more here)

Customers are required to wear face masks inside all MVC facilities. People who can’t wear face coverings should contact MVC for alternate arrangements, officials said.

Vehicle Centers and Licensing Centers will not process transactions that can be conducted through the NJMVC.gov website, in order to limit unnecessary visits to MVC agencies. A list of available online transactions is posted on the MVC website.

Expiration dates for driver licenses, registrations, inspections stickers, and temporary tags have been extended to at least July 31.

"We look forward to reopening as a reimagined MVC that will allow us to streamline services and keep crowds down," Chief Administrator Brenda Sue Fulton said. "Our first priority is the health and safety of our employees and our customers."

This is a developing story. Patch will update this article if more information becomes available.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

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