County clerk: Expect delays at the DMV

Orange County Clerk Annie Rabbitt advises the public to expect delays at the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) office in Goshen beginning Monday, Dec. 16, due to the Greenlight Law.

This law, signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, directs all New York State DMVs to issue drivers licenses to undocumented residents.

Rabbitt previously stated she will comply with the Greenlight Law. However, she said, undocumented residents must meet all the requirements. Rabbitt said she anticipates long delays due to the potential volume of applicants and the lack of resources provided by the state to implement this Greenlight Law.

The long wait you may experience is a state issue and not an Orange County issue, Rabbitt said. She said her staff at the Goshen DMV is committed to providing high-quality service.

Controversy

Rabbitt, a Republican, said last summer that she disagrees with the law. But she said at the time she would not join a threatened court challenge to stop it or refuse to uphold the law if it were passed.

State Sen. Jen Metzger (D-Rosendale), who represents the 42nd Senate District, which includes Warwick and Goshen, supports the law.

"As chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I have heard from agricultural organizations and individual farmers from across the state about the importance of this bill for providing farm workers in New York the opportunity to drive themselves to work, to the store, to the doctor, or simply take their kids to school," she said in June.

She said proper licensing, testing, and insurance for all drivers will make local roads safer and bring in revenue.

Republican lawmakers said the Greenlight Law would reward people who had violated federal immigration laws and possibly lead to voter fraud if immigrants use the licenses to try to register to vote.