Facing heavy criticism for long lines that form even before the offices open, the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles on Tuesday announced a host of measures designed to cut wait times and improve service at its statewide offices.

Some of the proposals were announced last week when DMV officials held a news conference to address the throng of people who started gathering around 6 a.m. at the Cary DMV located at 1387 SE Maynard Road.

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But the latest initiatives announced Tuesday include:

  • Bringing in additional employees to staff the agency's busiest locations.
    • Establishing dedicated road testers so as to allow office workers to remain at their desk to provide service to customers.
      • Creating express lines for customers whose transactions are fairly simple.
        • Hiring more than 100 new license examiners around the state. The agency said it has 80 current vacancies and is looking to fill 34 additional positions.

          The agency announced last week that it would get its workers to review customers' requests while they were in line to make sure they had the appropriate paperwork. Administrators also said they would instruct DMV call center workers to direct customers to field offices that had more availability.

          “Our top priorities are to issue accurate and timely documents in an efficient manner for all our customers,” NCDMV Commissioner Torre Jessup said in a written statement. “We will be taking many steps over the coming weeks and months to recruit, hire and train new staff and will continue to look for other ways to cut customers’ wait times.”

          One of the more "customer friendly" approaches the DMV is also implementing is having state workers distribute bottles of water to patrons standing in line, which often occurs during days in which the heat index can range in triple-digit territory. Agency administrators asked for volunteers to distribute the water, and officials say state workers have eagerly volunteered.

          The department has grappled with lengthy lines as people scramble to get their REAL IDs, a new form of ID that will soon be required to fly, enter a federal building like a courthouse or visit a military base.

          Make appointment, gather documents to get REAL ID

          DMV officials say they have had a tremendous response of employees wanting to help out so far. And the agency said additional volunteers to assist DMV employees with water handouts are welcome.

          The DMV urges customers to call and make appointments before coming.

          A REAL ID costs $13 if your license does not need to be renewed. If you wait until you need to renew your license, it will cost you the standard renewal fee.

          The REAL ID act was passed in 2005, in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.