New Jersey Lawmakers Demand Solution To Long Lines At The DMV

RAHWAY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- The parking lot at the Rahway motor vehicle agency filled up quickly Wednesday, with many people back after being turned away Tuesday night.

"I had to miss a day of work, pick up my son, two sisters, and come here, and they saying they can't get it done," Tara Finkley told CBS2's Meg Baker.

Finkley's story is one that many across the state have experienced.

"I had to come back twice, come back, take off work. Hard enough to keep working, I have to spend my time here. The employees do the best they can but they are overwhelmed," Pat Cassio said.

The agency has blamed it on its 30-year-old computer system, and motorists who wait until the end of the month.

That doesn't explain problems on August 9. No one from the DMV would go on camera Wednesday, and Senate President Steve Sweeney questioned the agency's delay in fixing the problems -- he called for a senate hearing on the issue.

"When is the new system going to be up and running, and how can we make it better," Sweeney said.

The majority of complaints started coming in after budget cuts in 2015. A plan for a new computer system was cancelled. Some DMV locations were closed and employees hours were cut.

"Under the Christie administration the staffing on Saturdays was reduced to half staff.

Legislation can't change how the agency runs, that's in the hands of Christie and the DMV chief administrator.

"Here you have more than enough money generated in this agency to have a first class, top shelf program," Sweeney said.

When pressed, the agency said it would restore the workforce at the busiest locations in North Jersey, but could not give a timeline for computer system upgrades.

The agency said by January they plan to have half a million renewing by mail.