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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| It is now going to cost you 5 bucks to talk to a human at the Mass. RMV |
| 2010-03-01 |
| This is going to suck big time for the older drivers or anyone else who does not yet have internet access to do online transactions. This is taking place on top of the elimination of many RMV offices in Massachusetts. Just more inconvenience for Mass. Drivers. BOSTON--Republican and Democratic critics, including Senate President Therese Murray, are taking aim at a new $5 fee the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles is charging customers who want to do their business with a real person. Just out-source the whole RMV like Indiana did. The fee that went into effect Monday will be assessed on customers who talk to an agency employee either in person or on the telephone to conduct certain transactions, including renewing driver's licenses and vehicle registrations. The fee won't be charged for transactions completed online, by mail or over the agency's automated phone system. Also exempted will be a visit required every 10 years for an in-person license renewal. Registrar Rachel Kaprelian says the goal is to both raise money for the cash-strapped state and discourage people from going to branches. "We're in a fiscal crisis and fees are realigning to reflect that crisis, and this is an added twist to get people to use the Internet," she said. Lawmakers immediately vowed to eliminate the fee. Murray said she expects there will be support for an amendment to end the fee when the Senate votes on an unrelated bill Tuesday to toughen oversight of elderly drivers and ban texting while driving. "It doesn't seem quite fair," Murray said. "I like talking to people on the phone if I have a problem." Republicans say they will also push an amendment to kill the fee. "Consumers are being asked to pay more for less, and it's about time the RMV started making customer service its number one priority again," said Senate Minority leader Richard Tisei, R-Wakefield. Jennifer Nassour, chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party, called the fee a "backdoor tax." The Boston Herald cited an RMV memorandum that appeared to coach employees about hiding the fee hike, saying it should not be singled out but included in a discussion of broader fee hikes during the past year. Kaprelian denied any "skullduggery." She said: "There was no intent whatsoever to not be upfront about it. We want to be upfront about it, because we want people to know they have an option -- a great option," via the Internet. |
| Posted by:Delphi |
| #6 In Virginia, they charge you $5 extra to renew your registration by mail. |
| Posted by: Eric Jablow 2010-03-01 22:52 |
| #5 In California, if you are a member of AAA, you just go down to the AAA office to get everything done. No need to ever go to the DMV. Maybe they should consider something like that. |
| Posted by: crosspatch 2010-03-01 22:32 |
| #4 Is this payable in earth cash, or do you need strips of gold press latinum? |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2010-03-01 21:18 |
| #3 Ya got that right, Iblis. I had a friend of mine that visited East Berlin way back when and when I asked him what it was like crossing the border he said, "it's like going to the Registry". |
| Posted by: tu3031 2010-03-01 20:54 |
| #2 What would you expect? Afterall we have the original proto-type Obamanation as governor here. The other thing they don't tell you is that they can force you to have to talk to them by making things more complicated or for any little thing they "claim" you made a mistake on. Wait till you see what happens when this new tax doesn't bring in the revenue expected. |
| Posted by: Alanc 2010-03-01 19:57 |
| #1 Under most circumstances, I would pay $5 not to have to speak with any RMV employees. |
| Posted by: Iblis 2010-03-01 19:11 |