MAIA Bulletin # April 2010

Transcription

1 REGISTRY NEWS MAIA Bulletin # April 2010 Circulate to: Personal Lines Commercial Lines Management Donna M. McKenna V.P. of Communications and Editor In This Issue... Page 1 RMV Unveils New Driver s License/ID Cards Page 2 4 More Changes in Body Styles Page 5 It s here!!! The Registry Procedures e-book is Ready! RMV Unveils New Driver s License/ID Cards Made in MA with Better Protection The Patrick-Murray Administration has unveiled new driver's licenses and MA IDs that, for the first time in over a decade, are being manufactured in Massachusetts. The new cards, which went into production this week, include new security features that offer residents better protection against fraud and identity theft. "In keeping with Governor Patrick's commitment to strengthening customer service throughout the transportation system, MassDOT's Registry of Motor Vehicles designed a card with a new look that will protect residents better than ever," said Registrar Rachel Kaprielian. "We also required the manufacturer to set up a printing facility in Massachusetts so we could support local jobs and ensure our customers will get their new cards quicker than they did in the past." The new cards will be phased in over the five-year renewal period, so current driver s licenses, MA IDs, commercial driver s licenses, junior operator and under 21 licenses remain valid until they come up for renewal. Over the next year, the RMV is expected to send out approximately 1.4 million of the new cards to customers. Among the new security measures that will help law enforcement, banks, retailers and liquor establishments validate the cards is a perforated outline of Massachusetts that can be seen when held up to any light. Currently licenses are protected by multiple ghost images of the bearer's image, a kinegram or metalized optical device and ultraviolet sensitive inks. Customers will also find it easier to change their address on the new cards. On the back of the card is a writeable area which will replace the need for a printed address sticker. L-1 Identity Solutions is manufacturing the cards at a secure facility the company set up in Massachusetts for quicker mail delivery. For the past six years, Massachusetts licenses have been produced in Washington state. For transportation news and updates visit transportation or follow MassDOT on Twitter at massdot. Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA) Professionalism Through Independence 91 Cedar Street Milford, MA Phone: (508) or (800) Fax: (508) Website: massagent.com

2 MAIA Bulletin # April Registry News Page 2 Effective March 1, 2010, changes were made to the type of body styles that may be entered into ALARS when a vehicle is registered. On April 21, 2010, additional changes were made to the body style chart (on page 4 of this update) and to ALARS to correct the following changes: PAS plates with the prefix LS can only be issued to vehicles with the body style LSV. Antique plates with the prefix AN (PAS) and Year of Manufacture plates (PAY) were moved to separate lines on the chart. Year of Manufacture plates with the prefix MC (PAY) were added. New Body Styles These body styles became effective March 1, They include: BACKH A backhoe BOX A box truck BUCKT A bucket truck CAMP An un-powered camper (i.e. a trailer) CONST A vehicle used for construction LOADR A machine used in construction that is primarily used to load material LSV A low speed vehicle RAMP A ramp truck ROLL A roll-off truck SUV A Sport Utility Vehicle For new and existing body styles, new ALARS logic will restrict the issuance of plate types to only those vehicles with body styles appropriate for the plate type. For example, ALARS will prevent the issuance of semi-trailer plates (SMN) to a Low Speed Vehicle. When an incorrect plate type is entered, a message will display on the R1A Screen: Body Style/Plate Type Configuration Not Allowed. Here s what the R1A Screen will look like: More Changes in Body Styles (REVISED) The chart on pages 4 provides a comprehensive list of the body styles that are available and which plate types should be issued for each body style. You should consult this chart regularly to ensure that vehicles are eligible to be registered with the plate type the customer has requested. It is important that you issue plates only to vehicles with an appropriate body style.

3 MAIA Bulletin # April Registry News Page 3 More Changes in Body Styles (REVISED) Obsolete Body Styles With this implementation, some body styles have become obsolete. This table lists the body styles that will now be obsolete, and suggests new or existing body styles that should be used instead. Be aware that this list may not be comprehensive: Obsolete Body Style Table Obsolete Body Style CABCA / CABCH CARCA SUBUR TRUCK WAGON Body Style to Choose Instead Find out what kind of truck it is, and choose the appropriate body style. RAMP or TRAIL SUV Find out what kind of truck it is, and choose the appropriate body style STWAG Although these body styles will continue to appear in ALARS to describe already registered vehicles, they will be unavailable for new registrations, unless the registrant is a surviving spouse, or the transaction is a summer/winter or salvage title transaction. This will affect transactions in the following way: If a vehicle was previously registered with a now obsolete body style, and the vehicle is transferred to a new owner (who is not a surviving spouse), then during the registration process, the RMV Clerk will be reminded because the now-obsolete body style will be highlighted in red text and the message Body Style Not Allowed for a New Registration will be displayed. For those agents on EVR, here s what the R1A Screen will look like: What RMV Clerks Should Do When the RMV-1 Form Lists an Obsolete Body Style When an RMV-1 form submitted for an ownership transfer lists an obsolete body style, do not turn the customer away. Process the registration transaction by entering an acceptable (and appropriate) body style into ALARS in place of the obsolete one. On the RMV-1 Form, cross out the obsolete body style listed there, and write in the body style entered into ALARS.

4 MAIA Bulletin # April Registry News Page 4 AUT More Changes in Body Styles (REVISED) HM Requires Model Number When registering a vehicle with a body style of AUTHM, ALARS will require clerks to enter a Model Number on the R1A Screen. Registering an Auto Home When registering an Auto Home and assigning an Auto Home plate (AHN), there will now be two acceptable body styles: AUTHM or CAMP. Choose the correct body style based on whether or not the auto home is self-propelled (powered). If the auto home is powered, use the body style of AUTHM. If the auto home is not powered (a trailer), use the body style of CAMP. The CAMP body style will work the same as the TRAIL body style, meaning that ALARS will not ask for cylinders, passengers, and doors. The following chart summarizes how to register an Auto Home, and how ALARS will respond: Is the Auto Home Body Style That Should Be Entered on R1A Are Cylinders, Passengers, Doors Required? Powered AUTHM Yes Unpowered (i.e. trailer) CAMP No As always, if you have questions or need more information, feel free to contact Donna McKenna or Kathy Cormier at the MAIA offices by phone at or or by at dmckenna@massagent.com or kcormier@massagent.com.

5 MAIA Bulletin # April Registry News Page 5 IT S HERE!! IT S HERE!!! IT S HERE!! IT S HERE!! IT S HERE!! IT S HERE!! MAIA has just released its first-ever e-book a digital version of the ever-popular Registry Procedures Manual. This means no more bulky three-ring binders, no more hunting through a ream of paper to find what you need! Instead, you will view the manual on the internet. It will look very similar to today's manual and may be viewed in full screen mode for easy reading. In addition, you'll have the capability of printing a page of the manual (or all pages if you want) or following a link and printing an online form right at your desktop. And, because the book is digital, you ll never have to worry about using an obsolete form. You ll be able to click on the RMV forms in MAIA s digital manual to link to and print the latest version of the form directly from the RMV website. The two BEST things about the digital Registry Procedures Manual are that the manual will be updated quarterly instead of on an annual basis -- automatically and seamlessly -- and the digital manual format will allow you to keyword search the entire manual for what you need! The Registry Procedures E-Book is sold as an annual subscription. The first time you purchase a subscription to the Registry Procedures Manual in digital format (ebook), the price will be: $ member price / manual (includes MA sales tax) $ non-member price / manual (includes MA sales tax) Thereafter, every April you will be billed for a renewal subscription to the Registry Procedures Manual in digital format (ebook). The renewal subscription price will be: $ member price / annual update (includes MA sales tax) $ non-member price / annual update (includes MA sales tax) Not convinced??? Try flipping the pages of our demo chapter by clicking the mini manual You may order your subscription by clicking here or completing the form below and mailing it to MAIA, 91 Cedar Street, Milford, MA Attn: David Sherburne.

6 Filled boxes indicate the plate types that may be issued for each body style. For example, Auto Home plates (plate type beginning with AH), may be issued to auto homes, but not to a bus. The two-letter plate type codes listed here refer to the entire plate series. For example TR refers to both TRN and TRR. Note: This chart indicates the plate types that may be issued for each body style. ALARS will enforce all of these requirements. Use this chart to determine which plate types are eligible to be issued for each body style. 6