Viewer captures long lines in cold and rain outside Port Jervis DMV, nearly empty waiting room inside
Photos taken weeks apart show customers waiting outdoors while seats appeared available inside; county clerk says issue with line procedures has been addressed.
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Photos taken by a viewer are raising questions about long lines outside the Port Jervis DMV after he says customers were left standing outside in cold and rainy weather while the waiting room appeared nearly empty.
The viewer first contacted News 12 in late February after what he described as a frustrating experience at the Port Jervis DMV.
He said he and several other people were required to wait outside in the cold before being allowed inside the building. According to the viewer, one of the people waiting in line that day appeared to be pregnant.
But when he finally got inside, he said the waiting room was nearly empty, with only one person seated ahead of him.
Last week, he sent additional photos showing people once again waiting outside the Port Jervis DMV—this time in the rain. One of the photos appears to show a person standing outside with a walker.
News 12 brought the concerns to Orange County Clerk Kelly Eskew, whose office oversees DMV operations in the county.
Eskew said the Port Jervis DMV lobby can accommodate six customers at a time. When the office reaches capacity, the security guard is supposed to collect cellphone numbers from people waiting outside and call them when space becomes available inside.
Eskew also said the office works to accommodate elderly customers and people with disabilities.
After reviewing the photos and concerns raised by the viewer, Eskew said there was a problem with how the security guard was handling the line. She said the guard has since been spoken to and that the issue should now be resolved.
County officials also say DMV offices across New York are experiencing longer wait times due to a state-mandated changeover to a new computer software system.
The Port Jervis DMV is one of the few offices in the region that still accepts walk-in customers, which officials say can sometimes lead to crowding during busy periods.
