MA State News: vehicle inspections next week; Gov Bakers gets first vaccine shot

 

"Vehicle inspections will not be performed until at least next week because of an ongoing problem with Applus Technologies, a vendor with the Registry of Motor Vehicles, officials said Tuesday.

The RMV is granting a grace period for some motor vehicle inspections, the RMV said. Vehicles with expired inspection stickers from March and vehicles bought or registered after March 23 should be given until April 30 to get an inspection, the RMV said.

Customers who recently had an inspection and are in the 60-day free retest window will be afforded an extra day for each day Applus’s system remains unavailable, but should plan to get an inspection as soon as possible once the system is restored."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/07/metro/vehicle-inspections-will-not-be-performed-until-least-next-week/

 

"GOV. CHARLIE BAKER appeared to have no problem on Tuesday with Northeastern University requiring students to be vaccinated by the first day of the fall semester, even though he has balked at mandating vaccinations for other populations.

The governor said many colleges and universities are considering vaccine requirements for students similar to what Northeastern announced. “It’s going to be an issue they’re all going to talk about,” he said, adding that students should get vaccinated."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/baker-notes-governor-ok-with-northeastern-vaccine-requirement/

 

Gov Baker's press conference after he got his first vaccine shot =>  https://youtu.be/fauTJj4XCvE

 

RMV may resume inspections Wednesday, Apr 7

"Businesses that provide vehicle inspections in Massachusetts are “anxious” to resume offering the service, amid an ongoing problem with a Registry vendor that has shut down inspections for the past week in the Commonwealth and several other states, a trade group leader said Monday.

“Well, I think everybody is anxious to get it back online, so we’re all waiting,” said John Howell, co-executive director of the New England Service Station & Automotive Repair Association, in a phone interview.

He said service stations often see a spike in revenue toward the end of every month from drivers who need new inspection stickers. "

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/05/metro/were-all-waiting-businesses-affected-by-car-inspection-pause-hoping-system-gets-fixed-soon/

According to  Twitter, operations should resume 4/7/21 ... given the nature of the issue (per the vendor), we'll wait and see.   https://twitter.com/MassRMV/status/1379026141411999750

RMV may resume inspections Tuesday, Apr 6

RMV announces no vehicle Inspections for Apr 2 - Apr 4, 2021

Due to a production issue with our vendor Applus Technologies, inspection stations will be unable to inspect vehicles Friday 4/2 through Sunday 4/4. Please visit http://mavehiclecheck.com for more information.

Shared from Twitter:https://twitter.com/MassRMV/status/1377768389171683337

RMV announces no vehicle Inspections for Apr 2 - Apr 4, 2021

In the News: "RMV waives REAL ID upgrade fees next year for those who renew licenses this summer"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

For the more than half-a-million people with a Massachusetts driver’s license or identification card expiring this summer, the Registry of Motor Vehicles is offering to waive the fees for upgrading to a REAL ID next year if people renew their standard licenses online by Aug. 12.

Those who qualify for the deal and choose to participate will have to wait until at least February 2021 to visit an RMV Service Center for the upgrade to REAL ID for free. The federal government has delayed requiring REAL ID cards for the purposes of boarding domestic flights until October 2021.

“We hope they will all take advantage of this one-time offer for a free, future upgrade to allow the RMV to prioritize ‘social-distancing’ and other essential transactions that may only be completed in-person,” said RMV Registrar Jamey Tesler.

 ....

“This one-time, time limited offer is available to most customers who have an expired or expiring license or ID card dated between March 2020 and August 2021, as renewals are allowed up to two years after expiration, or up to a year in advance of the expiration date printed on their license or ID,” officials wrote.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200621/rmv-waives-real-id-upgrade-fees-next-year-for-those-who-renew-licenses-this-summer/1

Renew your license online
https://atlas-myrmv.massdot.state.ma.us/myrmv/

 

RMV waives REAL ID upgrade fees next year for those who renew licenses this summer

In the News: flavor tobacco restrictions take effect; RMV extends delay for renewals

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Restrictions on the sale of flavored tobacco products, including mint and menthol cigarettes, are set to take effect next week and Gov. Charlie Baker said he sees no reason the ongoing coronavirus pandemic should delay that.

The law restricting the sale of flavored tobacco products, including mint and menthol cigarettes, to smoking bars for on-premise consumption is set to take effect June 1, but the New England Convenience Stores & Energy Marketers Association has been pressing Baker to use his executive authority to delay the ban for one year.

“I think it should go into effect,” the governor said Tuesday when asked if the change should be delayed. “It was a public health issue at the time and it was particularly important to a number of folks in the public health community and to the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus and the leadership, and we supported it and we signed it and we want to see it go into effect.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200527/baker-no-reason-to-delay-flavored-tobacco-crackdown

Gov Baker's update for May 27, 2020 = https://youtu.be/MS_bJ66sCkM

"The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles announced it will be implementing further extensions to the renewal timelines for expiring motor vehicle inspection stickers, passenger plate registrations, professional credentials, and driver’s licenses and learner’s permits, including Commercial Driver’s Licenses and Commercial Learner’s Permits (CDLs / CLPs).

While the RMV has previously announced extensions for most credentials, passenger plate registrations and inspection stickers expired or expiring in March, April, and May, this action will apply an additional extension to those credentials and an extension to some credentials expiring in June, July, and August.

These extensions replicate the ongoing measures the RMV has taken to reduce the need for customers to physically visit an RMV Service Center or one of its business partners’ facilities, allowing for ‘social-distancing’ by decreasing non-essential travel and customer volume. Additional, longer-term extensions will also allow the RMV to ensure ‘social-distancing’ guidelines are met as demand for in-person service and renewals resumes during the Commonwealth’s reopening phases."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200527/you-can-keep-waiting-to-renew-your-license-and-get-your-car-inspected-rmv-extends-deadlines-again

Massachusetts RMV sets limited appointment service

"Appointment only reservation system for limited in-person transactions at select RMV sites.

Visit https://t.co/rPSU5Qg3e9, select Online Service Center, then select Make/Cancel a Reservation.

Please visit https://t.co/zDf6FF7VJL for more detailed info."

Shared from Twitter
https://twitter.com/MassRMV/status/1260245897398620160?s=03

Appointment only reservation system for limited in-person transactions at select RMV sites. Visit https://t.co/rPSU5Qg3e9, select Online Service Center, then select Make/Cancel a Reservation. Please visit https://t.co/zDf6FF7VJL for more detailed info.

— Massachusetts RMV (@MassRMV) May 12, 2020

Massachusetts RMV sets limited appt service

In the News: RMV analysis update, Senate District primary date not defined yet

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The House Transportation Committee chairman said last week that key players in the Baker administration should have noticed the Registry of Motor Vehicles was falling behind on public safety-related tasks while it focused on reducing customer wait times, but conceded that investigators may never get a clear answer on who knew what.

Rep. William Straus, who previously criticized a “war on wait times” at the RMV, told WGBH’s “Greater Boston” that extensive interview notes from an outside audit firm reveal a significant focus on customer service at the Registry before a fatal crash in June prompted re-evaluation of thousands of warnings that should have resulted in license suspensions.

Gov. Charlie Baker and his administration have denied that they shifted staff from back-end departments that manage violation notices to front-facing service tasks, but Straus alleged Wednesday that argument is “simply not true.”

“Positions were left unfilled in critical areas and vacancies were only filled, from the information we’ve developed, in these branch offices because, again, the focus was only customer service,” Straus said during the interview."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20191208/straus-registry-backlog-should-have-been-known

"The confrontation over when to schedule a special election for an open Senate seat has spilled outside the Senate chamber walls.

Gov. Charlie Baker last week endorsed Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr’s plan to avoid a general election on the same day as the presidential primary, and Secretary of State William Galvin accused Republicans of attempting “voter suppression.”

For three days last week, Democratic and Republican Senate leaders were unable to broker an agreement over when voters will choose a new senator in the Plymouth and Barnstable District to replace Viriato “Vinny” deMacedo, a Republican who resigned at the end of November.

With the delay continuing, the implications of the ticking clock are unclear. Galvin said his office looks to set special elections 12 to 14 weeks in advance, but cautioned that there is no “magic number” after which the March 3 presidential primary would no longer be a viable date for the Senate."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20191208/baker-backs-tarr-in-senate-election-spat

In the News: Franklin election season starts Aug 1; RMV had a broken process

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"While most towns in the area have put their election seasons behind them, Franklin is just getting the ball rolling with the approach of its biennial election this fall. 

Town Clerk Teresa Burr said she expects to see a lot of activity right off the bat as she begins distributing nomination papers. Papers will be available starting Thursday for anyone considering a run for any of the town’s upcoming open positions. 

The election is set for Nov. 5. 

Burr, who is among those whose position is up for election, said she plans to be the first to pull papers this year. And she expects others to start collecting papers throughout the day Thursday, “just hearing from word of mouth.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190730/franklin-gearing-up-for-biennial-town-election-papers-available-thursday

www.registertovotema.com

"Officials within the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles grappled for years without success to clear chronic backlogs in the processing of notifications sent by other states of infractions by Massachusetts drivers, according to testimony on Tuesday at an oversight hearing prompted by a crash that killed seven motorcyclists in New Hampshire. 

Members of the Legislature’s transportation committee sought to learn why information that Volodymyr Zhukovskyy had been arrested for drunken driving in Connecticut weeks before the June 21 crash — which could have triggered a suspension of his commercial driver’s license — was not acted upon by the Massachusetts agency. 

Registry officials acknowledge that tens of thousands of such out-of-state notices have gone unprocessed for years, instead left to pile up in boxes stored in a state office."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190730/official-rmv-dropped-out-of-state-violation-notices-due-to-short-staffing-troublesome-software

In the News: No rush to get a ReadID

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Massachusetts residents planning to renew their driver’s licenses in the new year may want to consider getting a Real ID, as 2019 marks the final year before the long-anticipated IDs will be required for domestic flights and to enter federal buildings. 

Getting the new IDs, however, isn’t quite as simple as before. 

The state started issuing the new identification cards in March 2018 and through November the Registry of Motor Vehicles had issued 474,406 Real IDs, according to a spokeswoman with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. But not everyone is jumping at the opportunity. 

Nearly 689,000 residents opted to stick with the standard ID during the same time period, and while it’s difficult to know exactly why residents choose one ID over the other – especially considering the cost is the same – getting a Real ID is definitely more complicated."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20181209/no-rush-to-real-id-in-massachusetts

Check the MA RMV site for info on the ReadID process and documentation requirements
https://www.mass.gov/decision-tree/real-id-real-answers-a-tool-to-help-you-determine-if-you-need-a-real-id

No rush to get a ReadID

In the News: Bellingham 140 construction begins; RealID popular at RMV

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"It’s about to get even busier on the town’s stretch of Rte. 140 – at least for a few months. 

Contractors this week will likely begin a roughly $2.5 million road construction project to widen the intersection at Rte. 140 and Maple and South Maple streets, add lanes, and upgrade the traffic signals. 

“There will be congestion,” Bellingham Department of Public Works Director Don DiMartino said. “There will be construction delays.” 

He suggested drivers try to avoid the area, but acknowledged the route is key on several commutes. Rte. 140 links Bellingham to Interstate 495 and the Franklin commuter rail station, and is close to both downtown and an industrial zone."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180917/rte-140-construction-in-bellingham-expected-to-cause-delays

"More than four months after the state started issuing driver’s licenses that comply with the federal Real ID security law, the standard license continues to be the most popular service option for customers at Registry of Motor Vehicles locations, according to data presented Monday. 

For customers who get their licenses at AAA locations instead of RMV branches, however, the Real ID is the most popular option, Registrar Erin Deveney told the Department of Transportation Board of Directors. 

Massachusetts in March began offering the Real ID-compliant licenses, which require additional documentation to obtain. Starting Oct. 1, 2020, the standard licenses that are not Real ID-compliant will no longer be accepted as identification for domestic air travel or entering federal buildings and nuclear power plants."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180917/rmv-chief-outlines-real-id-wait-time-trends

https://www.mass.gov/guides/real-id

In the News: Pack 126 Eagle Scouts; Empty Bowls dinner tickets on sale; RMV shuts down this weekend

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Salvator Balkus, Daniel Hickey, Samuel Molloy, Seamus Reardon and Daniel Schratz, members of the Boy Scout Troop #126 and residents of Franklin, earned the honor of Eagle Scout, the highest rank that the Boy Scouts offers. Only 3-4 percent of Boy Scout members attain this honor. 

Salvator Balkus is a senior at Franklin High School. In the troop, he has previously served as patrol leader and webmaster. In addition to scouting, Balkus is very involved in the FHS Mock Trial team, where he argues cases and gives expert testimony in court. He is also a National Honor Society member, competes in sprinting and high jump for the high school spring track team, and works at the Panther Help Desk helping students and solving technological issues with school computers. 

Last year he completed his Eagle project, in which he helped the Franklin Historical Commission digitally compile data and redesign the website for their museum. The project involved eight dedicated volunteers and over 80 hours of work. These volunteers created data spreadsheets to record military veteran information from World War I, World War II, the Spanish-American War and the Revolutionary War. They also scanned portraits, recorded data on historic properties and digitalized a timeline of Franklin history."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180319/strongboy-scout-troop-126-members-earn-eagle-scout-distinctionstrong

"Pick up your spoons. 

Franklin High School’s annual community Empty Bowls Dinner will be held May 1, and tickets can be bought online. 

To help the nearly 1,000 individuals seeking food assistance from the Franklin Food Pantry, the pantry is again partnering with the Franklin High School Empty Bowls Club. In the last two years, the club has raised about $11,000. 

There were 250 tickets sold for last year’s event. The club is hoping to sell an additional 100 this year. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $10 for children. Soup and bread will be served by the club’s students, and everyone will take home a hand-crafted bowl made by the students and community members."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180319/franklins-empty-bowls-club-to-host-dinner

"Need to get your car inspected? 

Don’t plan on heading to the shop this weekend. 

The state Registry of Motor Vehicles will close 7 p.m. Thursday, and won’t reopen until 8 a.m. Monday, March 26. Anything associated with the Registry – like your car’s new inspection sticker – will be inaccessible during that time. 

“We’ve tried to do everything we can to make our customers aware,” Lauren Dias, of Hopkinton’s Lumber Street Auto Repair said. “It shuts us down for that period of time.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180319/registry-of-motor-vehicles-to-shut-down-friday

Registry of Motor Vehicles will close 7 p.m. Thursday, and won’t reopen until 8 a.m. Monday, March 26

RMV will be closed March 23-25 for a system upgrade

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Signs along the Mass Pike announced this weekend that the Registry of Motor Vehicles will close temporarily March 23-25 while it switches to a new computer system. 

Services, other than law enforcement, will be unavailable from 7 p.m. Thursday, March 22, until 8 a.m. Monday, March 26, including motor vehicle inspections, registry online services and in-person services at registry and AAA locations. On its website, the RMV said it will not process any transactions during this time. 

This means all Massachusetts inspection stations, including auto dealerships, cannot perform vehicle inspections on March 23, 24 and 25. 

The new computer system will replace the current one, which is more 30 years old. It will also allow the registry to issue federally mandated REAL ID credentials, which allow some members of the public to use a driver’s license as federal identification."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180318/rmv-to-close-march-23-25-for-system-upgrade

Here is a list of services that will be unavailable during this time:

• RMV Service Centers
• RMV transactions at AAA offices
• RMV transactions online at MassRMV.com or Mass.gov/RMV
• Vehicle inspections at inspection stations
• Car registrations or vehicle inspections at car dealerships

All RMV services will come back online at 8 a.m. on March 26.

For more info, check out the RMV page at MA.GOV
https://www.mass.gov/news/the-rmv-will-be-closed-march-23-25-for-a-system-upgrade

RMV will be closed March 23-25 for a system upgrade

In the News: Jamie Barrett performs, RMV adds online services

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

The Black Box Children’s Series kicks off its second season this Saturday, Nov. 21, featuring Franklin singer-songwriter, guitarist and music teacher Jamie Barrett. 

Back by popular demand with an engaging mix of family-favorite songs, Barrett presents a fun and interactive program for audiences of all ages, beginning at 2 p.m.

Read the full article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151118/NEWS/151116448/1994/NEWS

The Registry of Motor Vehicles announced Wednesday it will now allow many drivers to pay their road test and license fees online rather than in line. 

Registry officials said the prepay function has the potential to eliminated 50,000 trips a year to its offices. 

Customers who have a regular Class D permit or a motorcycle Class M permit will be eligible to visit massrmv.com before completing a road test and avoid the lines altogether.

Read the full article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151118/NEWS/151115782/1994/NEWS

In the News: Joey Kramer, RMV Milford, mountain lion

Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer stops in Franklin

Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer stopped at the Big Y Wednesday in Franklin to promote his organic coffee bean company called Rockin' & Roastin'.

Legislators ask RMV head to save Milford branch

In an effort to keep open the Milford branch, state Sen. Richard Moore and state Rep. John Fernandes met with the head of the Registry of Motor Vehicles last week to raise their concerns about the potential closure.

Caller reports seeing a mountain lion on I-495

A woman reported seeing a mountain lion on the median of I-495 in Milford just north of Exit 20 today a little after 1 p.m.

Avoid lines, use the RMV webpage

RMV Prepares for Busy April Vacation Week

April school vacation days next week are among the RMV’s busiest of the year.  In preparation, MassDOT today again encouraged customers to do their business online if possible and unveiled new tools to help customers who must visit a branch better understand wait-times to plan their branch business.

As the article indicates, it would be good to visit the website  http://www.massrmv.com/  to see if you can conduct your business online and avoid lines in the RMV office

RMV Attleboro Branch Adds Permit Testing

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

RMV Attleboro Branch Adds Permit Testing

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 2/7/13

MassDOT Registrar of Motor Vehicles Rachel Kaprielian today joined local officials and announced the availability of driver's license permit testing at the Attleboro RMV Branch, located at 75 Park Street. 

The Attleboro Branch is one of two express branches in the Commonwealth that provide limited license and registration transactions. The availability of the permit testing in Attleboro will help the RMV manage an anticipated influx of test takers during the busy school vacation period.

"The City has been a great partner and has made it possible to bring permit testing to Attleboro," said Registrar Kaprielian. "Teens and new drivers may now complete this important step in the licensing process closer to home."

The Registry delivered existing automated testing equipment to provide six testing stations in Attleboro. The move will save area residents from traveling to Taunton, Milford or Brockton to complete the 20 minute test.

The Registry of Motor Vehicles administered approximately 45,000 permit tests across the Commonwealth in 2012. There are 4.73 million licensed drivers in Massachusetts.  To perform many basic transactions, visit the RMV online today at its new web address:  http://www.massrmv.com

Things you can do from here:

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Registry of Motor Vehicles Unveils MassRMV.com

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Registry of Motor Vehicles Unveils MassRMV.com

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 2/4/13

MassDOT Registry of Motor Vehicles Division has transitioned to a new website making it the first motor vehicle administration in the nation poised to accept advertising in order to generate new revenue.

With more than 16 million website visits per year, the switch to www.massrmv.com offers limited advertising opportunities, and allows the RMV to develop clearer navigation to let customers perform their transactions with renewed confidence.

"This is a great example of MassDOT's continued emphasis on making our services more user-friendly," said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey. "MassRMV.com makes online transactions simpler for the customer and gives us additional revenue opportunities."

During 2012, Registry customers performed more than 3.4 million transactions online, up from 2.9 million transactions in 2011, ranging from license and registration renewals to citation payments to signing up to become organ donors. Advertisements will be limited to select informational pages and are not on customer transaction pages.

"MassRMV.com is now the official website of the Registry of Motor Vehicles where customers may perform 35 different transactions safely and securely," said Registrar of Motor Vehicles Rachel Kaprielian. "We work hard to drive customer traffic to the web, so we recognize our obligation to make this mode of service delivery as convenient as possible."

In September, MassDOT conducted usability testing on the new website design with customers at its Chinatown Branch. Based on customer reviews, navigation bars were redesigned, terminology was changed and special alerts affecting branch operations have been pushed to the forefront at MassRMV.com.

MassRMV.com customers will initially see promotional ads for MassDOT and RMV services while a contract with the advertising vendor, Municipal Media Solutions is finalized. In its first year of operation, the advertisements are expected to generate about $65,000 in new revenue.
Online advertising supplements current advertising partnerships, including those used in RMV mailers to defray mailing and productions costs. A closed-circuit RMV TV network, MVN, targets ads to those likely to be conducting business in Registry Branches and offers PSA time for relevant RMV news and updates.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

RMV Checks School Vehicles in Hingham

This type of inspection has occurred in two places now, if it comes to Franklin I hope we do well.

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

RMV Checks School Vehicles in Hingham

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 11/18/11

A surprise compliance check of school transport vehicles in Hingham this morning yielded 18 violations and two criminal complaints.  MassDOT RMV inspectors teamed up with the Hingham police to perform the checks outside the South Shore Educational Collaborative.

Registry inspectors and police officers stopped 62 vehicles.  Among the complaints filed- the driver of a South Shore Community Action Council van from Plymouth did not have a valid 7-D license.  Driving without the required 7-D license carries a $500 fine.
Officers also issued citations for defective equipment such as bald tires and safety violations such as vehicle overloading and not ensuring that children are properly secured in car seats or seat belts.

Repeat offenders are called in for a hearing with RMV officers which could result in the suspension of their 7-D license.

Drivers of the so-called 7-D vehicles must undergo a criminal background check to apply for a special license. The 7-D vehicles, usually cargo vans and station wagons, must also undergo special inspections twice a year to ensure safety features are working properly.

RMV teams up with local police periodically for surprise 7D compliance checks. Earlier this month, the Registry teamed up with Brockton police to issue 17 citations townwide on buses, vans and station wagons carrying youngsters to Brockton elementary schools.

Things you can do from here:

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RMV Urges Customers: Renew Online

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

RMV Urges Customers: Renew Online

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 10/7/11

MassDOT RMV is again urging eligible drivers to renew their licenses online.

The number of license renewals is expected to increase by 50 percent beginning in November and continue at higher levels for the months thereafter.

November is the beginning of a five-year license renewal cycle that began in 1991, replacing the previous four-year cycle.   The result of that change is one year every five years with a reduced number of license renewals.  That lower volume year ends as of November 1, and transactions will increase. The RMV has responded by launching a publicity campaign through Highway Division billboards and public service announcements at the MBTA to urge drivers to check their license expiration dates and renew online.

The goal of the campaign is to let the public know that approximately 50% percent of drivers are eligible to renew their license online and avoid a branch visit. It also reminds customers that they can renew their licenses up to one year before the expiration date that falls on their birthday.

The RMV's online renewal application asks customers a series of questions. Customers eligible to renew online can pay the required fee and their license will be mailed to them in 7-10 business days. The online application also helps customers that aren't eligible to renew via the Internet. The web transaction informs customers 75 years or older that they must renew at a branch, in accordance with the 2010 Safe Driving Law. It also informs customers if they owe parking tickets or excise bills that have to be paid in order to renew. Customers that are required to renew in a branch can complete and print the web application to save time during their visit.

Customers not able to renew online should plan ahead and check branch locations and wait times online. To help prepare for the expected increase in customers, RMV recently expanded its hours at some of its busiest branches.  The RMV website allows customers to check branch wait times and locations. 

Services available on the MassDOT RMV website include applying for a first time license; converting an out-of-state license; scheduling a branch appointment; registration renewals; ordering a driving record, crash report or Fast Lane transponder; viewing the status of a license, registration, driver education certificate and title; signing up for organ/tissue donation; and canceling a registration plate.

You can also sign up online for a free license renewal or Massachusetts ID reminder service.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

Sign up for the RMV driver license renewal reminders

One could quibble about the RMV's driver's license renewal reminder program in that you have to sign up to make it effect. But then technically that is following a good "opt in" practice.

The Registry of Motor Vehicles offers an online service that will remind drivers 30 days before their driver’s license is due to expire.

Residents who sign up for the service can choose a reminder by phone, email or text and there is no additional cost to the public. 

The new service replaces the mail reminder program that was discontinued earlier this year as a cost-saving measure.

The new reminder service is provided by the RMV in collaboration with Sendza, Inc. and is sponsored by local businesses.  Any information you provide is protected by a strict privacy policy.

Drivers are encouraged to sign up for the program. For more information visit www.mass.gov/rmv.