As part of MassDOT's focus on customer service, the Registry of Motor

Vehicles has expanded service hours at several of its busiest branch

locations. The RMV is opening earlier in Lawrence, Worcester, Milford,

Brockton and Taunton. These branches now offer license and

registration service starting at 8 AM Monday through Friday. The

hours for each specific location are:

Lawrence, Worcester, and Brockton branch hours are 8 AM to

5 PM Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and 8 AM to

6 PM on Thursday. Road tests are offered between 9 AM to

5 PM. Suspension hearings are offered between 9 AM to 5 PM Monday,

Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and from 10 AM to 5 PM on

Thursday in Brockton and Lawrence, and from 9 AM to 5 PM on

Thursday in Worcester.

Milford branch hours are 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday.

Road tests are offered between 9 AM and 5 PM.

Taunton branch hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through

Friday. Road tests are offered from 9 AM to 5 PM.

The Springfield Branch will offer expanded hours beginning in mid-

August, with expanded hours to be introduced in Boston and

Watertown in the coming months.

The expanded hours provide an earlier service option to customers,

and will reduce wait times throughout the course of the day. .

To prove eligibility for Veterans Plates, a customer must prove that

they received an honorable discharge from military service. Any of the

following documents are acceptable proof of honorable discharge:

A DD-214 that indicates ―Honorable‖ in the Character of Service

box (which will not always be located in the same place on the

form – see samples later in this update). Note that only the long

form (full page) DD-214 is acceptable; the short form (half page)

cannot be accepted.

A DD-215 (which is an amended version of the DD-214) that

indicates an honorable discharge.

An Honorable Discharge form (this was used during WWII and the

Korean War).

In order to be acceptable, the information on the form presented must

be typed (never handwritten).

RMV Corrects Veteran Plate

Eligibility Information

Circulate to:

Personal Lines

Commercial Lines

Management

Donna M. McKenna

V.P. of Communications/Editor (dmckenna@massagent.com)

In This Issue . . .

Page 1

RMV Announces Expanded

Branch Hours

RMV Corrects Veteran Plate

Eligibility Information

Page 2

MAIA Meets with RMV Re.

ALARS Modernization Project

Page 3—5

Sample Acceptable

DD-214 Form

—

Do YOU know the answer

to today’s

Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA) • Professionalism Through Independence 91 Cedar Street • Milford, MA 01757

Phone: (508) 634-2900 or (800) 972-9312 • Fax: (508) 634-2929 • Website: massagent.com®

MAIA Bulletin #2011-8 July 2011

REGISTRY NEWS

RMV Announces

Expanded Branch Hours

Earlier this week, MAIA met with RMV officials regarding the RMV’s plans to replace the aging ALARS

computer system — the ALARS Modernization Project. The meeting was held at the request of the RMV

for the purpose of outlining the information and functionality independent insurance agents will want and

need from a new, modernized RMV computer system.

MAIA was represented by RMV Task Force Chairman Glen Davis, MAIA VP of Communications Donna

McKenna, and MAIA Member Support Specialist Kathy Cormier. MAIA also invited Tom O’Connor of

Boston Software to provide an overview of how WinRater works with the current ALARS and what would

be needed (and desired) to optimize the usefulness of a new ALARS system for agents.

MAIA urged the RMV representatives to make agent access to RMV information simple, browser-based

and FREE. We pointed out that while many agents are able to access RMV information through their

companies, still other agents must access the information they need to write/service a policy through the

RMV’s Virtual Private Network (VPN). Use of the VPN bears a minimum monthly cost of $18 per certificate

(one certificate for each user is required) and the purchase of terminal emulation software. The

emulation software was an inexpensive option in the past; however, the creator of the emulation

software has sold the business to a California company, and the new owner now has a ten license

minimum plus monthly service fees.

The RMV is currently conducting interviews with system users and business partners as a preliminary

step in preparing the RFR (Request for Response) and ultimately the selection of a vendor to actually

build the new system.

There is no formal timetable for this project; however, RMV personnel are hoping to have responses

submitted and a vendor selected within the next year. We’ll keep you posted.

As always, feel free to contact Donna McKenna or Kathy Cormier with your RMV questions by phone at

800.972.9312 or 508.634.2900 or by email at dmckenna@massagent.com or kcormier@massagent.com.

MAIA Bulletin #2011-8 July 2011 - Registry News Page 2

MAIA Meets with RMV

Regarding ALARS Modernization Project

MAIA Bulletin #2011-8 July 2011 - Registry News Page 3

MAIA Bulletin #2011-8 Junly2011 - Registry News Page 4

MAIA Bulletin #2011-8 July 2011 - Registry News Page 5