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Here’s what 2 + 1 + 6 = REAL ID formula means for your NJ appointment

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Here’s what 2 + 1 + 6 = REAL ID formula means for your NJ appointment


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You’ve read the headlines about getting a REAL ID before the May 7 deadline. You’ve done your due diligence and made an appointment. 

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Now what? What even is a REAL ID? It will be needed in more places than just the airport. How much does it cost?

Well, before you go to your appointment, you need to make sure you bring the right documentation.

The New Jersey Motor Vehicle commissioner requires a unique combination of documents, which follows a process called 2 + 1 + 6 = REAL ID. 

That means you must have:

  • Identity documents that add up to six points
  • Two documents to prove your address
  • One valid social security number

Bear in mind that most transactions at the MVC require a physical document, and not just a copy on your smartphone. 

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What’s included in REAL ID 6 points?

This is the spot where you’ll need to verify your identity with primary documents that add up to six points, such as:

  • A U.S passport or birth certificate (4 points each)
  • A certificate of naturalization (4 points) 
  • Your current permanent resident card (3 points)
  • A U.S school or college photo ID with a transcript (2 points)
  • A legal name change court order, civil marriage certificate or divorce decree (2 points each)
  • Additional documents also count, like a current U.S military ID or New Jersey firearms purchaser card

What’s included in REAL ID 2?

The “2” of the REAL ID formula is where you prove your address. You need to provide two out of the following:

  • A valid NJ driver’s license or MVC-issued driver license renewal form displaying your residential address
  • A utility bill or credit card bill from within the past 90 days 
  • A bank or credit union statement issued within the past 60 days 
  • An original, unexpired lease or rental agreement
  • Any tax-related documents or government correspondence received within the past year 
  • First-class mail from a government agency within the past six months 

What’s included in REAL ID 1?

The “1” in the REAL ID process is where you need to prove your social security number. You’ll have to show one of the following: 

  • A Social Security card 
  • A pay stub with the full Social Security number
  • A W-2 or 1099 form issued within the past year
  • You can also enter your Social Security number in the application and the MVC will electronically verify it 

What is REAL ID and where will I need it?

The REAL ID is a federal requirement for state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards. It’s meant to issue minimum security standards for state-issued IDs. 

It’s part of a post-9/11 bill passed by Congress in 2005, according to the U.S Department of Homeland Security. 

The requirement was originally set to go into effect in 2020, but was pushed back five years amid backlogs induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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Starting May 7 this year, a REAL ID will be required for domestic flying and to get into any federal buildings. 

Your current ID might read “Not For Real ID purposes,” and that means that, even if unexpired, the ID would not be compliant with the federal requirement. 

But you could also present another REAL ID-compliant document to TSA security at the airport, like a passport. 

It can take about two weeks, or 15 business days, to process the request at your local MVC. 

All Real IDs will feature a stamp on the right-hand corner to show that it is federally compliant. The symbol stamped on your Real ID card will vary, depending on the state it was issued in.

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What happens at your REAL ID appointment?

At the appointment, the documents you provide are scanned and stored by the MVC, as per federal requirements. State officials stressed that the documents are securely stored.

A REAL ID has to be obtained via an in-person appointment, but renewals can be done online.

The ID costs $35, while a standard New Jersey license or ID costs $24.

Staff Writer Manahil Ahmah contributed this article, which contains information from USA Today

Daniel Munoz covers business, consumer affairs, labor and the economy for NorthJersey.com and The Record. 

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Email: munozd@northjersey.com; Twitter:@danielmunoz100 and Facebook





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Family describes frantic moments delivering baby on the NJ Turnpike

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Family describes frantic moments delivering baby on the NJ Turnpike


JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Mile marker 113.3 on the eastern spur of the New Jersey Turnpike in Secaucus will forever be an incredible memory for one family, who scrambled to deliver their baby boy right on the side of the road.

Kristen Fast was in labor last week, with her husband driving her to the hospital on the turnpike, but when they got to the mile marker, baby Archer couldn’t wait any longer and had to be delivered on the highway.

Archer insisted on arriving three days before he was due, and maybe it was because his lovely big sister, 4-year-old Zelda, was waiting for him.

He was in such a hurry, he didn’t even let mom and dad get to the hospital for him to be born, although they tried.

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“The doula said, ‘pull over, hang up, call 911.’ So we did that. We called 911. The operator started walking him through what to do,” said Archer’s mother, Kristen Fast.

“Next thing I know, I get in the back seat, and we’re making sure she’s comfortable, and I look down, and that baby is ready to go,” said Archer’s dad, Alex Fast.

New Jersey State Trooper Freddie Guacamaya responded to Alex’s 911 call.

“Cop comes, puts on his gloves, and he was fantastic,” Alex Fast said.

“I said, ‘Are you the EMT?’ And he didn’t answer. So I said, ‘You are not an EMT. I’m in danger.’ But he was fine, he was being very calm,” Kristen Fast said.

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“They said, ‘you got to clamp that cord right away. If you have anything, if you have a string.’ So I panicked and just looked in the front and we just had an iPhone cable. So we just clamped the cord with an iPhone cable,” Alex Fast said.

“The EMTs came, and they said, ‘What is this?’” Kristen Fast said.

The loving, kind courtesies extended to the family just continued, helping to make their emergency experience flawless.

“There were three policemen who showed up. I said, ‘I’d love to be with her in the ambulance.’ And they were amazing. They drove our car to the hospital for us, which was so nice. They paid for our valet,” Alex and Kristen Fast said.

They were all welcomed to Hackensack University Medical Center with a healthy baby and a hearty story, backed by Archer’s exact birthplace, recorded accurately: New Jersey Turnpike I-95, mile marker 113.

“Archer’s healthy. He’s thriving. He’s a Jersey boy through and through. I don’t think you get more Jersey than being born on the New Jersey Turnpike,” Kristen Fast said.

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What to know about Freedom Fuel Network as Trump urges cheaper gas prices in Pennsylvania, NJ

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What to know about Freedom Fuel Network as Trump urges cheaper gas prices in Pennsylvania, NJ


PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — There are 25 new Freedom Fuel Network gas stations opening across the Philadelphia area and South Jersey as Americans closely watch gas prices.

This comes after President Trump announced the privately-owned network on social media last week, saying it will help drivers save money at the pump.

There are 25 new Freedom Fuel gas stations opening across the Philadelphia area and South Jersey as Americans closely watch gas prices.

The first location in Dresher, Montgomery County, opened on Friday, with the price of $3.47 per gallon.

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This cost was a nod to President Trump serving as the nation’s 47th president.

However, that price has already started to rise after the president announced new U.S. strikes, sending oil and gas prices higher.

Some of those locations with gas stations participating in the Freedom Fuel Network include Lansdowne, Bensalem and Pottstown in Pennsylvania; and Marlton in New Jersey.

Gas Calculator: Find out how much it costs to fill your tank

A White House official told ABC News the administration is not involved with the company and is not providing any funding or subsidies.

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Instead, the company says it is cutting its own profit margins to offer lower prices.

Some drivers are applauding this move while others, including gas analysts, are skeptical.

“$3.47 a gallon is a Godsend, honestly,” said one consumer. “Great price because this was a Sunoco before and prices were a lot higher.”

“I want Americans to be asking, ‘Where is that money coming from? Why are corporations and businesses willing to subsidize gas 50-cents a gallon for people, to make President Trump look good,” said another consumer.

Trump is also encouraging other gas retailers to lower their prices. He has not identified the company behind Freedom Fuel, saying only that it’s a private retailer.

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Action News is still working to learn how long these lower prices will last and whether more stations will open.

Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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7 On Your Side helps man recover his stolen iPhone from safe pickup site

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7 On Your Side helps man recover his stolen iPhone from safe pickup site


JAMESBURG, New Jersey (WABC) — When it comes to home deliveries, having your order stolen right off your doorstep can be infuriating, so one New Jersey man did it right.

Peter Tsistinas had his brand-new cell phone delivered to a so-called safe pickup site, designated by the seller, where it was stolen.

Delivery services can drop off your item at any number of safe locations, where you can later pick up your order. But as exclusive video obtained by 7 On Your Side shows, porch pirates are upping their game.

Captured on a security camera, a man calmly walks into the CVS store, asks for a delivery, shows an ID, signs for it, and walks off with a brand-new iPhone. There’s just one problem.

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“They saw somebody that was not me getting my package,” said Tsistinas when asked what the police were seeing on the tape.

The real Peter, a popular DJ for hire, was dumbfounded. He chose the safe drop to avoid being porch pirated, but the thief still got the goods.

“Yeah, I actually paid extra for it. It wasn’t much. It was $7.99,” Tsistinas said.

Tsistinas got a notification from UPS that the phone was dropped off at 12:39 p.m., less than two hours later, he got a notice it was picked up.

But Tsistinas didn’t pick it up. It was the unknown suspect who went into the CVS, walking off with the brand-new iPhone for Peter’s son.

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Tsistinas reported the crime to the police and alerted UPS, CVS and T-Mobile, which shipped the smartphone. The response to the DJ was what he called, “crickets.”

“I was watching, you know ABC News, and I saw 7 On Your Side and I’m like, ‘you know, you’re the first thing I thought of,’” Tsistinas said

7 On Your Side reached out to both CVS and the cell phone provider.

Within a week, T-Mobile responded, saying, “Our care team is working with Mr. Tsistinas directly to get him the device he ordered from us, and we’re working closely with CVS and our other partners to further protect our customers’ orders from theft. Our dedicated fraud, crime and logistics teams collaborate with vendors to address these issues and improve delivery processes.”

CVS also sent 7 On Your Side an official statement, saying, “We’ve connected with the customer and apologized for his experience. T-Mobile is now working directly with Mr. Tsistinas to help resolve the matter. Anyone picking up a UPS package at CVS Pharmacy must present identification matching the person and name on the package to be released. We’re working with the store team to help prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.”

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After weeks of back and forth with the companies, Tsistinas could finally focus on his beats again.

“I paid almost $500 in deposit, and then it was going to be like so much per month. So, they just squashed all that,” Tsistinas said.

Referencing the Rolling Stones, he says he not only got his satisfaction, but also his money back.

“Nina, you’re the best!” Peter said.

Police are still looking for the suspect in the video and say he’s part of a crime ring. If you recognize him, call Jamesburg police in New Jersey.

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