The city of Cordova sent the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) 256 applications from locals seeking mobile DMV services.
That’s according to the Cordova Legislative Information Office, which just tallied its total number of mobile DMV applications after the April 25 registration deadline.
Now, applicants just have to wait for state officials to schedule their visit to Cordova.
Cordova’s DMV closed last summer, when the department was having issues with its tech and web systems, and remained closed after the lone employee left the job. The city announced it had hired a new employee to run the office last winter – but the person withdrew their application.
That has left Cordovans who are in need of in-person DMV services stranded for close to a year now.
“The bottom line is that we have such a privation where we have the lack of essentials, in a town that is essential to Alaska,” said Cordova resident Stephanie Cutler, while speaking about the DMV at a City Council meeting last month.
While many DMV services can be completed online, there are a few services only accessible via in-person visits. That was the impetus for city officials to reach out to the state DMV to schedule a mobile visit.
One of those services is for people to obtain a REAL ID, which is a federally-compliant form of identification meant to be more secure than a regular ID. REAL IDs are required for domestic air travel starting on May 7, although people can still use valid passports to fly within the United States if they have one.
The other major service Cordovans need to complete in person are driver’s tests.
The state DMV will review applications and paperwork and then schedule its visit in Cordova, according to the Legislative Information Office.
