Registry Changes for September

The month of September is seeing a lot of registry changes. Below are changes that take effect before the end of the month:

Three Surchargeable Events Suspension:
Effective September 30, 2010, three surchargeable events in a two-year period may cause a license suspension. A surchargeable event is a motor vehicle violation or an at-fault accident. If you get a third surchargeable event, you must complete a Driver Retraining Course within 90 days of the date of the notification you receive from the RMV. If you do not, your license will be suspended. You must complete the course each time you get a third surchargeable event within two years. It does not matter if you have already taken the course. See the Surchargeable Events section on page 46 of the Driver’s Manual for more information.

Required In-Person Renewals for Operators Over 75:
Effective September 30, 2010, operators 75 years of age or older can only renew a driver’s license at an RMV branch. The operator must either pass a vision test or present a completed Vision Screening Certificate.

Duplicate Title Online:
Effective September 22, 2010, a request for Duplicate Title online transaction will be available in the RMV’s Online Branch section of the Internet. Vehicle owners will now be able to request a duplicate title online. The request will be processed in Real Time, which means that it will be processed immediately in ALARS. To request a duplicate title, the owner must provide the following information: Valid e-mail address, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or Title Number, Owner’s Driver’s License Number or FID/EIN Number and valid payment information.

For more information, visit the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicle website.

Glitch Delays RMV Branch Openings

WCVB-TV is reporting that the state Department of Transportation said it had to delay the opening of several of its Registry of Motor Vehicle branches until 10 a.m. Thursday because of a mainframe hardware failure within the state's Information Technology Division. Because of the breakdown, the RMV said it wasn't able to conduct system maintenance and updates and process transactions through its database which are normally run overnight.

This work must be completed before the database can be accessed for processing new transactions, the RMV said. "This is a problem that surfaced in the middle of the night which ITD immediately addressed. However, it will take at least until 10 a.m. for our database to catch up so we can begin processing transactions," said Registrar Rachel Kaprielian. "We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience this presents."

Even with some branches closed this morning, customers were still able to do some transactions online by visiting http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/rmv/.

MassDOT Registry Website

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Registry of Motor Vehicles website is more helpful than ever before! By visiting the website, you can save a trip to the RMV if you're looking to renew your license or registration, schedule a road test, change your address or pay a citation. You can also enter your zip code to find the closest RMV and the wait time. For more information, visit their website!

Take the Pledge

Whether you're an experienced driver or teen who just got their license, texting while driving is dangerous for everyone on the road. As stated on the text-while-driving website, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that May 20th is the deadliest day of the year for teens on the road. We are in Prom and Graduation season, combine that with the high numbers of teenagers texting while driving and you have a deadly combination. A study conducted by the Allstate Foundation revealed that nearly 82% of teens use the cell phone while driving, out of which 49% admitted to texting while driving. You can help stop this issue by spreading the word about the No Phone Zone Pledge to teens and adults! The No Phone Zone is a national movement to put an end to distracted driving. Join by signing this pledge not to text or use your phone while behind the wheel. Take the No Phone Zone Pledge now!

Are you Covered? 2010 Top Ten Most Stolen Cars

Whether your car is new or old, you could be at risk! If you do not have auto insurance or are unsure of your coverage amounts contact an agent with C & S Insurance today for a free quote and advice!

2010's Top 10 Most Stolen Cars:
10. 2002 Ford Explorer
9. 1999 Ford Taurus
8. 1994 Acura Integra
7. 1996 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
6. 2000 Dodge Caravan
5. 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup
4. 1997 Ford F-150 Pickup
3. 1989 Toyota Camry
2. 1995 Honda Civic
1. 1994 Honda Accord

Avoid car theft with these easy tips!

Mass ID Makeover

Massachusetts unveiled a new license yesterday that has added security features. The new security measures will help law enforcement, banks, retailers and liquor establishments validate the cards. A newly added feature will help customers change their addresses is the new writable area on the back that will replace the need for a sticker. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has also required the manufacturer to set up a facility in Massachusetts for quicker delivery and to set up new jobs. This would be the first time in over a decade that they were manufactured locally. The Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is expected to send out over 1.4 million new cards to customers within the next year.