Is this not the unofficial end of Gov. Patrick's tenure?
Gov. Deval Patrick is quietly whacking beleaguered Bay State motorists with a $5 fee to use Registry of Motor Vehicle branches to renew their licenses and registrations, outraging critics who say the “back-door tax” hits poor and elderly drivers the hardest.The fee, which goes into effect today, comes on the heels of a $10 license renewal increase last year.
“In this economic climate we shouldn’t be nickel-and-diming people for mandated services,” said state Sen. Steve Baddour (D-Methuen), who co-chairs the Legislative Transportation Committee, and is planning to look into repealing the fee.
Republicans said residents ought to be able to walk in and use their RMV branches without penalty.
“This is a back-door tax that hits the poor and elderly the hardest,” said Tarah Donoghue, spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Republican Party. “They can’t afford or don’t have Internet access and computers. The Patrick-Murray administration is burdening those people who can afford it the least.”
Customers will incur the new $5 fee if they speak with an RMV representative on the phone or go in to one of the 30 branches for the following services:
Renewing your driver’s license (except for the 10-year renewal required in person);
Getting a duplicate license or Massachusetts ID;
Renewing your registration; or
Requesting an attested driving record.
The fee won’t be charged for transactions completed online, by mail, or over the RMV’s automated phone system.
“We want to discourage people from going to the branches,” said Ann Dufresne, a spokeswoman for the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
UPDATE: More from NECN, the Herald and Wall Street Journal.
SECOND UPDATE: More from Michael Graham and the Herald.
THIRD UPDATE: Gov. Patrick changes his mind. More from Todd Feinburg.