Previously Published in The Messenger
By Raheem Soto
When the Port Jefferson Station DMV closed in August 2023, state officials assured the public that surrounding offices — especially Medford — could handle the demand. Local leaders warned otherwise. Nearly two years later, the consequences are clear: long lines, overwhelmed staff, and limited access to essential services.
The May 7, 2025, REAL ID deadline has only amplified the problem. With federal requirements now in effect for domestic air travel, residents across Suffolk County have been rushing to update their identification. But Medford’s DMV, already burdened by the closure of Port Jefferson, has become a bottleneck. Appointments are scarce. Lines stretch out the doors. The public is left waiting — often for hours.
Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Center Moriches) recently addressed the issue directly:
“New York State closed the Port Jefferson Station DMV, claiming that Medford could handle the influx. Now, with the imposition of Real ID on top of regular transactions with the DMV, there have been lines outside the doors every day for months. NYS Senator Anthony Palumbo and so many more rallied with the community, saying this would happen. Well, it happened. Thanks, New York State.”
Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) (pictured right) also reinforced the need for corrective action:
“I believe we should open a satellite office to handle the high volume as a result of the Real ID applications… I think closing down the Port Jefferson facility was premature.”
According to DMV records, the Port Jefferson office handled over 95,000 transactions per year before it was closed. That demand didn’t disappear—it shifted to Medford, Dix Hills, Hauppauge, and Riverhead, all of which are now under pressure to fix the gap.
The idea that DMV services can be moved online doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. Real ID applications require in-person visits, and documents must be verified by staff. No app or website can replicate that. When the nearest available office is overwhelmed, it puts an unnecessary burden on working families, seniors, and others who rely on local access to government services.
The solution is straightforward: restore DMV accessibility in northern Brookhaven. As a short-term fix, that could mean reopening a satellite office or deploying mobile DMV units. Either option would reduce congestion, improve service delivery, and restore trust in our government’s operations.
The decision to close the Port Jefferson DMV was shortsighted, but the response doesn’t have to be. Communities deserve better than being told to “just wait.”
Fixing this isn’t about blame—it’s about priorities.
It’s time to act on what we already know: consolidation without capacity is not efficiency. It’s dysfunction.