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News
News
MassDOT Now Offers Online Plate/Registration Cancellation
Toyota Owners Involved in Accidents May Get Second Chance at Surcharge Appeal
RMW Announces Registration Reinstatement Fee Increase
New EPA RRP Rule for Residential Commercial Construction Companies To Take Effect April 2010
MassDOT Formally Announces Operational Changes
Important Information About Plates
Winter Loss Prevention Tips
In Massachusetts, winter is a beautiful time of year. It can also be a dangerous and challenging time of year as we all prepare for and deal with wintry weather. Following are a few winter survival tips to help you survive the remaining weeks of winter!
Ice Dams and Accumulated Roof Snow
Ice dams form when melting ice and snow refreeze around the eaves of your roof and back up under the shingles, causing leaks and water damage to interior walls and ceilings. Once an ice dam forms, the damage is already done, so the focus should be on prevention. If possible, keep snow from accumulating on the lower three to six feet of your roof. If you have not already done so, eliminate possible warm air leaks to your attic by checking your gutters for leaves and debris, checking and sealing places where warm air could leak from your house to the attic, and inspecting your roof and attic for proper ventilation and insulation.
Alternative Heat Sources
Many homeowners will be looking for alternative sources of heat to reduce their heating bill. Unfortunately, many options significantly increase the likelihood of fire destroying your property and causing serious injury. All homeowners are urged to carefully weigh any savings against the increased possibility of a fire before you install or use an alternative heating source.
Frozen Pipes
Cold weather can cause major losses from frozen pipes in walls. During cold spells, monitor temperatures every few hours in vulnerable areas. Maintain indoor temperatures of 40°F and provide adequate heating throughout areas susceptible to freezing, such as in stairwells, above dropped ceilings, and attic spaces.
MassDOT Now Offers Online Plate/Registration Cancellation
MassDOT now offers online plate/registration cancellation. However, please note that this transaction can only be processed online if you physically have at least one plate in your possession. If you do not have at least one plate in your possession, you must complete an Affidavit For Cancellation of Registration for Lost Plate(s) and either bring the completed form to a branch office or mail it to the address on the form.
With this no fee transaction, you may cancel your MA Plate/Registration. You will be able to print out your Plate Return Receipt once you have processed the transaction.
A plate return receipt is an important document that will enable you to cancel your vehicle insurance and also provide proof of when you took your vehicle off the road. You may need this document to request an excise tax abatement or to provide as proof of when you stopped using your vehicle.
Visit https://secure.rmv.state.ma.us/platereturn/intro.aspx for more information.
Toyota Owners Involved in Accidents May Get Second Chance at Surcharge Appeal
Toyota owners who feel that the vehicle -- rather than the driver of the vehicle -- was at fault in the accident in question may request a “late appeal” hearing by contacting the Merit Rating Board at 617.351.4400.
Mass. Division of Insurance Issues Consumer Alert Regarding 2010 Toyota Recall; At-Fault Accident Appeals
Some Toyota drivers may have been involved in accidents caused or influenced by stuck accelerators. In light of the recently announced recall of certain models of Toyota vehicles for unintended acceleration, the Mass. Division of Insurance is issuing this consumer alert to drivers who may have received an at-fault determination as a result of the accident.
The Division will expand the appeal process for drivers of recalled Toyotas who have been penalized by an at-fault determination from their insurance company after the incident. Specifically, at-fault determination appeals will be allowed in the following circumstances:
1) Rehearings Based on Past Appeals
Any driver that has received a Toyota recall notice and who was involved in an accident involving a recalled vehicle that resulted in an at-fault determination and who had a hearing before the Board of Appeals in which the insurer’s determination was upheld, may file a request for a re-hearing.
2) New Appeals
Any driver that has received a Toyota recall notice and who was involved in an accident involving a recalled vehicle that resulted in an at-fault determination, may file for an appeal before the Board of Appeals, if one has not been previously filed.
3) Appeals Must be Filed Within 60 Days
The request for re-hearing or new appeal must be filed within 60 days from the notice of the recall or from the date of this alert, whichever is later. A copy of the Recall Notice must accompany all requests for appeals and re-hearings. The appeal request must include the appropriate Surcharge Appeal Notice from the driver’s insurance company. If the driver no longer has this notice, we urge him to contact his insurance company immediately to obtain a copy. The appeal request also must be accompanied by the requisite $50.00 filing fee if an appeal on this determination has not been previously filed. An additional filing fee is not required if the request is for a re-hearing.
Expanded Hearings Limited to Unintended Acceleration Issue The driver will be required to demonstrate that the vehicle involved in the accident is one of the models and types recalled by Toyota and that the accident was related to the acceleration problem outlined in the recall notice. All hearing determinations will be made on a case-by-case basis. While the recent recall was issued by Toyota, it covers several Lexus models as well the Pontiac Vibe. Drivers must show that the accident in question involved a vehicle covered by the Toyota recall notice.
RMW Announces Registration Reinstatement Fee Increase
Effective February 1, 2010, the registration reinstatement fee will increase from $50 to $100. This means that all registration reinstatements processed on or after February 1st will cost $100. All those processed before this date will cost $50; however, those with printed notices showing a reinstatement fee of $50 will pay $50 regardless of when it is processed.
MassDOT Mailings Eliminated
Please be advised that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will no longer mail the following materials to customers:
• License renewal notices
• Mass ID renewal notices
• License reinstatement letters:
-Letter sent to a licensed customer when his/her license is reinstated, provided that the license is
still active
-Letter sent to an unlicensed customer when his/her right to operate is reinstated
• Registration reinstatement letters:
-Letter sent to a person or corporation whose suspended registration has been reinstated
-Letter sent to a person or corporation whose revoked registration has been reinstated
• Vehicle Inspection reminder letters for vehicles that are overdue for inspection
• Inspector license renewal notices
• 7D license renewal notices
• Driver’s Education Certificates
• Junior Operator Brochures for parents (still available in branches)
• Change of address labels (customers can create their own)
New EPA RRP Rule for Residential Commercial Construction Companies To Take Effect April 2010
Residential construction companies that work on single and multi-family properties built before 1978 must register and certify their company and designated employees with the EPA. The EPA Lead Pain Rule: Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP Rule) will be in full effect on April 22, 2010.
More information: click here
MassDOT Formally Announces Operational Changes
The MassDOT has officially announced the following cutbacks in hours of operation and other services. Many of you heard erroneous information while at local branches this week. This is the MassDOT's official announcement to the public:
Due to the recent state government budget cuts, the MassDOT is making the following changes.
New Branch Hours
Effective November 3, 2008, the new MassDOT branch hours will be as follows:
Beverly Boston Braintree Brockton Fall River Framingham Hadley Lawrence Leominster Lowell Melrose/Revere New Bedford North Attleboro South Yarmouth Springfield Watertown Wilmington Worcester |
Hours of Operation |
Chicopee |
Hours of Operation |
North Adams |
Hours of Operation |
Haverhill |
Hours of Operation |
Eastfield Mall |
Hours of Operation |
Martha's Vineyard |
Hours of Operation |
Eastham |
Hours of Operation |
Revised Road Test Schedule
Effective November 3, 2008, most road test sites will no longer offer road tests on Mondays. The exceptions are the sites in the western part of the state (Hadley, Pittsfield, Springfield, and Greenfield), which will offer tests on Mondays, but not on Thursdays. The Great Barrington and Westfield City Hall sites will only offer tests on Fridays. The Simoni Rink test site in Cambridge will close.
Mailings Eliminated
The MassDOT will no longer mail out the following materials to customers:
- License renewal notices
- Mass ID renewal notices
- License reinstatement letters:
Letter sent to a licensed customer when his/her license is reinstated, provided that the license is still active
Letter sent to an unlicensed customer when his/her right to operate is reinstated - Registration reinstatement letters:
Letter sent to a person or corporation whose suspended registration has been reinstated
Letter sent to a person or corporation whose revoked registration has been reinstated - Vehicle Inspection reminder letters for vehicles that are overdue for inspection
- Inspector license renewal notices
- 7D license renewal notices
- Driver’s Education Certificates
- Junior Operator Brochures for parents (still available in branches)
- Change of address labels (customers can create their own)
Important Information About Plates
We continue to receive numerous calls about the “green plate” situation. The MassDOT has been very responsive in helping us provide you with the latest and best information on this issue. Here is the latest official information from the MassDOT:
* * *
Recently, there has been a tremendous amount of inaccurate information regarding the replacement of number plates. As you know, a vehicle displaying a worn or faded number plate(s) results in a safety inspection failure. The MassDOT will replace illegible red/ white or green/white passenger plates for free under certain conditions.
PLEASE NOTE: Customers with green/white plates do not have to obtain red/white plates unless the green/white plates are worn, damaged, or otherwise illegible. They can keep their green/white plates. MassDOT is NOT “phasing these plates out.”
Vehicle inspectors must use the following guidelines to evaluate the condition of plates:
- The plate must be legible from a distance of 60 feet.
- The reflective white background on the plate must reflect light.
- If the paint is chipping off the background or off the letters and numbers, the vehicle will not pass inspection until the owner gets a new plate(s).
NOTE: Some vehicle owners touch up worn and fading plates with off-the-shelf paints, but the MassDOT prohibits this practice. Paints found at home or at a hardware store do not have the reflective qualities required by the MassDOT.
***** GREEN/WHITE PLATE REPLACEMENT POLICY *****
If any green/white plate (regardless of its condition … damaged or illegible) is submitted for replacement:
Two new red/white plates will be issued at no cost to the motorist.
***** RED/WHITE PLATE REPLACEMENT POLICY *****
If one red/white plate is illegible:
If the paint on the numbers or letter are worn or the reflective background is worn on the red/white plate, a replacement plate will be ordered at no cost to the motorist. The “Number Plate Permit”, is provided to motorists who order a new plate. Inspectors should allow the inspection to proceed with (1) red/white plate mounted on the rear of the vehicle AND the “Number Plate Permit” as proof of ordering a replacement plate.
If a red/white plate is missing or damaged, the customer must pay $10 for the replacement plate. Inspectors should allow the inspection to proceed with (1) red/white plate mounted on the rear of the vehicle AND the “Number Plate Permit” as proof of ordering a replacement plate.
If you have any questions about this policy, please contact MassDOT Vehicle Safety & Compliance Services at 617-351-9345 or the station support hotline at 1-877-834-4677. Motorists with questions can contact the motorist hotline at 1-866-941-6277.
