Oahu residents who need to get or renew their driver’s license or obtain a state ID card can check out how long the lines are at five locations via live webcams activated by the city, Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced today.

To view the webcams, go www.honolulu.gov and click on “DMV/State ID service line cameras.”

People may also access the webpage directly at www3.honolulu.gov/csddlline.

The webcams show still images, refreshed once a minute, of how many people are waiting in line at the following driver licensing facilities:

>> City Square, 1199 Dillingham Blvd.

>> Kapolei, 1000 Uluohia St.

>> Koolau, 47-388 Hui Iwa Street, Suite 19.

>> Wahiawa, 330 North Cane St.

>> Waianae, 85-670 Farrington Hwy.

All sites are open weekdays from 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Waianae, which operates on Mondays and Wednesdays.

“The cameras will allow you to see how long the lines are before you leave your home or office — and give you the option of going to the location with the shortest line, waiting for a better time, or rushing over there now if you see the line is short,” Caldwell said in a news release. “And they will also prevent and deter criminal activity. One thing to remember: the lines are usually the longest on Fridays and Mondays or after a holiday, and at lunchtime.”

The counties took over processing applications for state identification cards in January, causing lines at some city DMV sites to nearly triple, the city said.