Cordovans only have until Friday to register for the mobile Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) service visit.
By Wednesday morning more than 150 people had already registered to obtain REAL IDs, and around 15-20 others had registered for driving tests, according to Legislative Information Officer Amy Hodgkins.
While Hodgkins said the date and duration of the visit aren’t set yet, with the number of appointments needed she guesses it won’t be “physically possible” to get every Cordovan serviced in just one day. After Friday’s registration deadline, the city will send a list of registrants to the state, which will then decide when a DMV employee(s) will come to Cordova to provide the services.
The city is paying for the mobile DMV visit, according to Cordova City Manager Sam Greenwood.
Mayor Kristin Smith said the DMV situation has come up at recent City Council meetings.
“We’ve heard at a City Council meeting that several young people want to apply for license but can’t yet because they can’t take a driver’s test here with a DMV,” she told The Cordova Times. “Probably, that’s limiting their ability to get a job.”
The mobile DMV visit comes as the city’s months-long search for a single DMV employee continues.
Cordova’s DMV closed last summer, when the department was having issues with its tech and web systems, and remained closed after the lone DMV employee vacated the post. The city announced it had hired a DMV employee to run the office last winter – but the person withdrew their application, leaving the department stranded once again.
The DMV customer service clerk job posting is still active on the city’s website. According to the posting, the position is a flexible three-days-per-week role, with retirement, time off, and health care benefits. The salary range is listed as $21.16 – $24.76 per hour.
The mobile visit also coincides with the upcoming REAL ID deadline.
Obtaining a REAL ID, which is a federally-compliant form of identification meant to be more secure than a regular ID, will be required for domestic air travel starting on May 7. However, people can still use valid passports to fly within the United States if they have one.
For people who live off the road system, like in Cordova, REAL IDs may be especially important.
“Many people are eager to get a REAL ID so this is a big bottleneck,” Smith said.
The mobile DMV will be able to issue REAL IDs and driver’s tests, according to the city. Additionally, people seeking other DMV services that can’t be completed online are encouraged to register for the mobile DMV and reach out to Hodgkins, who will coordinate with the state.
To register for the upcoming mobile DMV, participants must go to the Cordova Legislative Information Office at 418 First St. in person with the proper documents for the services they seek by Friday, April 25. To get information on the correct documents to bring or for other questions, reach out to Hodgkins at 907-424-5461 or via email at [email protected].
Additionally, the state has an online interactive REAL ID document checklist at https://online.dmv.alaska.gov/REALIdChecklist.
This story was updated to include information about the open DMV clerk position and the city’s role in paying for the mobile visit.