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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
6/14/2019
Contact: Motor Vehicle Administration
Office of Media Relations
Kellie Boulware, 410-762-5188

MEDIA ADVISORY: Lt. Governor Rutherford and MDOT MVA Open Columbia Annex Office to Serve Federal Real ID Customers

Temporary Annex Space to be Available to Customers with Scheduled REAL ID Appointments through May 2020

GLEN BURNIE, MD (June 17, 2019) – Howard County residents now have 258 additional opportunities each day for an appointment to satisfy the federally mandated REAL ID requirement. Today, Lt. Governor Boyd K. Rutherford and the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) officially opened its newest customer service space, an office in the Columbia Business Center adjacent to the MVA Columbia Branch. The new Columbia Annex is available for customers who make REAL ID appointments. With the additional capacity, staff at Columbia can provide 2,133 REAL ID appointments weekly. In late May, MDOT MVA opened a similar temporary office space in Parkville to assist Marylanders with federal REAL ID requirements.

“MDOT MVA is bringing more choices, convenience, and jobs to Howard County with the Columbia Annex office space,” said Lt. Governor Boyd K. Rutherford. “I’m pleased to be here to welcome the newest addition of the MDOT MVA to my neighborhood.”

“At MDOT MVA, we are committed to providing premier customer service to the residents of Maryland and finding innovative ways to make their experience simple and efficient,” said Chrissy Nizer, MDOT MVA Administrator. “I encourage citizens to look up your REAL ID status, and if necessary, collect your documents and make an appointment to come see us in Columbia or a branch nearest to you – we’ll see you within 15 minutes, guaranteed.”

The new 3,200-square-foot Columbia Annex includes 11 additional stations for transactions. More than 20 new positions were created to assist with REAL ID transactions at the new Annex location. Customers coming to Columbia with REAL ID appointments will have instructions to go directly to the Annex for their scheduled appointment. The Columbia MDOT MVA branch is located at 6490 Dobbin Road. The Annex is only a few doors down from the main branch. Hours for both offices are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Saturday hours are 8 a.m. to noon for driver’s license services only, including providing REAL ID documents for both identification cards and driver’s licenses.

People can use the MVA Lookup Tool, to determine if they are REAL ID compliant. When customers enter a driver’s license or identification card number, the tool provides details on REAL ID status. If required to bring in documents, the lookup tool links to the Online Document Guide where customers can get information about required documents and make an appointment. Appointments can also be made online.

The agency has added appointments, extended hours on Thursday evenings and Saturdays and created temporary extended hours at several branches across the state through July 2. MDOT MVA also is reaching out in the community, educating Marylanders on REAL ID. To find out where MDOT MVA outreach teams will be, visit the calendar of events.

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