Another RMV increase

Very quietly, Deval has added an increase in RMV fees... some R's call for it to be repealed. The intent is to get more drivers to go on-line to do business, but there must be at least a million or so drivers who don't even own a computer. This move hits our seniors the most and is just another tax increases.

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.

The RMV recorded only 1.8 million online transactions last year for the 4.7 million licensed drivers and the 5.8 million vehicles on the road.