North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek on Monday will share the findings of an audit of the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
The news conference will be livestreamed on WRAL.com at 11 a.m.
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Long lines at DMV offices across the state have become common as locations struggle to keep up with the demand of residents needing services, including REAL IDs.
In June, Boliek's office shared preliminary findings from a DMV audit, saying the agency has struggled with long wait times and difficulty booking appointments due in part to an overwhelmed workforce.
Among the findings, it was determined that additional driver license examiners are needed to meet demand and reduce wait times at DMV offices across the state. The state auditor also said more flexibility is needed in current personnel rules to allow the DMV to hire and retain staff more effectively.
WRAL News on Monday spoke to Barbara Pretty, a bus driver who was waiting outside the DMV on Avent Ferry Road in Raleigh to get her commercial driver license, or CDL.
"I’m not frustrated because I know they don’t have a lot of help," Pretty said. "I would just like to get in line, get my CDL and go home."
Pretty said this was her third attempt in a week.
"I started in Wendell, because I stay in Zebulon," she said. "I think I went there three days and I came back to Raleigh. I drive a bus and we start school on Tuesday, so I had to get my CDL."
The DMV relies on temporary positions, which also creates challenges. Those positions are harder to fill, offer fewer benefits and result in additional training costs due to high turnover.
In June, an audit showed 68% of the DMV's 142 temporary examiner positions were vacant.
Newly-appointed North Carolina DMV Commissioner Paul Tine has promised to significantly reduce wait times and improve customer experience by implementing numerous changes.
His plans include a more streamlined queuing system to include capacity limits, which will eliminate the likelihood of people waiting in line for hours only to be turned away near the end of the day.
All driver license offices across the state now serve walk-in customers all day. Tine also plans to shift some appointments to later in the day to make room for more morning walk-ins.
Due to the backlog, in July, Gov. Josh Stein signed a new state law allowing a two-year grace period for standard driver licenses that expire through Dec. 31, 2027, although the licenses won’t be eligible for everything.
On Monday, Boliek is expected to share additional findings into what it will take to make the DMV's process smoother for customers in the coming months. You can watch on WRAL.com at 11 a.m.
"I hope it gets better," Pretty said. "Because I know it’s frustrating for a lot of other people as well. So I just hope it gets better."