AROUND THE JERSEY SHORE O cial Calls On State To Expand Motor Vehicle

Commission Hours

By Bob Vosseller

OCEAN COUNTY – Joseph H. Vicari,

the

County Board of Commissioners director, would like to see the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) adjust their hours to be more convenient to customers in the county.

In a recent letter to NJMVC Chair and Chief Administrator Latrecia Littles-Floyd, Vicari requested that the MVC provide “more convenient hours and in-person services for our citizens in the three state NJMVC offices located in Ocean County.”

Vicari added that while there were concerns raised during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to limit hours and require online appointments in order to assure social distancing and reduce the spread of the virus, “the Ocean County Board of Commissioners believes the services rendered at the NJMVC offices are vital for our citizens and businesses.”

“It is now time to return to regular office hours where residents can walk in to access the NJMVC services. Ocean County is unique as it is home to the largest senior population in the state. More than 200,000 seniors call Ocean County home. They are turning to the Board of Commissioners to strongly request the state MVC provides more accessible hours, including occasional evenings, at its agency offices,” Vicari added.

He noted that this is what the residents would fi nd most convenient when needing assistance for registration, license renewals and other services the agency provides.

His letter stated “many of our seniors are technologically savvy, others readily admit they are not and the focus of doing things online are hindering them from completing tasks they were once able to take care of in your offices.”

“They are also uncomfortable providing personal information online. More than just our seniors, many working people that live in Ocean County do not have access to computers or the internet and need assistance in accessing these essential services online,” he added.

Vicari strongly urged the NJMVC to offer more availability of “your mobile unit throughout Ocean County. As the second largest county in the state, providing this mobile service more frequently would alleviate some of the current concerns of our residents.”

“We understand that the wave of the future will be to steer everyone toward your agency’s website, however, by pushing aside the thousands of people who do not have access to your website or may have difficulty using it, our residents are not being provided the public service they expect from you,” Vicari told Chair Littles-Floyd.

The NJMVC chair replied to Vicari’s May 18 letter on May 25 stating, “we understand and agree that many seniors and residents fi nd easier to speak to someone rather than use the internet. Our call center has dedicated staff to assist scheduling of appointments for anyone in need. The number for that is 609-292-6500.”

She added, “all our customers who need to renew a license or registration continue to receive a mailed renewal form. If desired anyone can completely avoid the internet by using the mail in option for renewals. The mail in option is especially convenient for those over 65.”

Littles-Floyd noted a state law enacted in September 2020 that allowed for seniors to renew their driver’s license “indefi nitely without a new trip to an MVC agency. She added that a legislative affairs team are in contact with Assembly and Senate staff from all districts covering Ocean County to assist residents who reach out to them on individual cases.

She noted a mobile unit has 14 stops currently scheduled in Ocean County including Jackson, Lakewood and Toms River. “Your office or individual towns can request the mobile unit to visit. We are scheduling into the fall.”

The Manahawkin MVC office will become a hybrid agency this summer according to Littles-Floyd. Licensing transactions will added and due to the volume of work and in proximity to other agencies the “MVC believes that the Manahawkin location can add licensing and transactions without any interruption to the current level of service.”

Barnegat Branch Trail

BARNEGAT – On October 15, 2007 the Barnegat Branch Trail was officially opened to the public. This “rail-to-trail” project follows the abandoned Barnegat Branch Division of the Central Railroad of New Jersey. The trail will be constructed in several phases, and will stretch 15.6 miles from Barnegat to Toms River once completed.

In your travels on the BBT, you’ll encoun- ter many information signs about Points of Interest or Historical Reference.

As always trail users are urged to be safe and stay aware of their surroundings. Please adhere to closures as this ensures safety of everyone and enables our contractor to complete the work in a timely manner.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Parks Department directly at 732-506-9090.