Closure of MVCs hits customers in NJ

EDISON, NJ – Confusion and frustration hit Motor Vehicle Commissions (MVCs) across New Jersey following an early-morning government shutdown stemming from the state budget impasse.

At midnight on June 30, Gov. Chris Christie ordered the closure of all non-essential services after the state Legislature failed to pass a budget by the deadline. MVC agencies and state parks were among the shuttered services.

Those looking to register cars, renew licenses and return plates were locked out of offices and registration stations around the state.

In Edison, "closed" signs were posted on the MVC agency’s glass doors with a photo of Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson) that read "This Facility is CLOSED Because of this Man" along with the speaker’s office phone number beneath the text.

A handful of people surrounded the posters, snapping photos on cellphones.

The state shut down after Prieto declined to put a Bill to vote in the Assembly that would restructure Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.

State Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) refuses to pass a budget in the upper chamber unless the Assembly passes the Horizon bill.