The Bureau of Motor Vehicle has extended the validity of its registration certificate by six months, a measure taken to ease the pressure on motorists whose vehicles' registration expired before they were able to renew. The extension is also a recognition of long lines and delays at BMV, which many residents have complained about.
The announcement was made by Governor Albert Bryan during his Monday Covid-19 response update, where Mr. Bryan reminded residents that the Stay-at-Home order had taken effect and urged Virgin Islanders to abide by the rules.
The governor also announced that BMV has extended by six months the validity of expired driver's licenses and other ID cards.
"This does not mean that you don't have to get insurance for your vehicle," Mr. Bryan said. "And for those of you whose cars are registered from last January and you still haven't registered them, expect your car to get impounded and you to get a ticket. This is just to accommodate the people who have been suffering from this from the time of this pandemic."
BMV last week announced a new online scheduling system that it said would increase efficiency. “As the BMV continues to transform the way it serves the community, this is another exciting and innovative initiative undertaken by my staff and I to improve services at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles," said BMV Director Barbara Jackson-McIntosh. "Residents will now have ease of access to schedule appointment for some of the services that we currently offer."
But the bureau fielded swift backlash from residents who said their experience at BMV has been subpar.
"Paid for real ID in November and still they don’t have it," said Leslie Benware on the Consortium's Facebook platform.
Mark Ray backed up Ms. Benware's post. "Exactly me too," he said. "November 19 last year. Got lucky and got in the trailers and they still didn't have it and told me to come back in August. Been trying to call for an appointment and they sit there and ignore the phone."
"Just made my appointment for December. First available appointment was October 30," said Maddie Colon.
While a majority of the posters shared negative experiences, not all had bad things to say. "My experience with the online registration went well. I hope that my next online attempt for another service goes equally as well," said David Magras Sr.
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