California Legislature approved a $16.6 million funding for the Department of Motor Vehicles on Tuesday in order to address wait times.

The agency had submitted a request to employ 230 new employees after noticing that customers have been experiencing longer-than-expected service times due to increased demand in the federal compliant REAL ID driver license or identification card, the agency said in a statement.

Officials did not clarify if the Newhall DMV office would benefit from the increased staff.

On Oct. 1, 2020, the federal government will require all driver licenses or ID cards to be Real ID compliant if cardholders wish to use them as identification to board an airplane or enter federal facilities, according to the California DMV.

“The DMV is bringing employees from various state agencies and departments to strengthen our hiring surge and help triage the longer lines at our offices,” said DMV Director Jean Shiomoto.

Related: DMV To Issue ‘Real ID’ Required For Air Travel Starting In 2020

The funding follows several steps the DMV has taken to try to reduce wait times and ease the burden on customers. Other steps the agency have taken are as follows:

• Redirected 289 DMV headquarters employees and staff from other state agencies and departments including the California Highway Patrol, to deploy to the busiest field offices  
• Added Saturday office hours at 60 field offices in the most impacted communities
• Opened 14 field offices one hour earlier, at 7 a.m., four days a week
• Expanded the DMV Now Self-Service Terminals into six additional field offices, with four more on the way
• Hired 500 new employees
• Rescinded any prohibition of food and beverages within DMV facilities
• Added front-door employees to aid customers waiting in lines outside DMV offices to help expedite transactions, answer questions, and help in other ways

“I appreciate the swift action of the legislature to help the department tackle these long waits with a new wave of employees. Today’s wait times are unacceptable and we are continuing to take action to improve service for all Californians,” Shiomoto said.

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