We share this press release from MassDOT announcing that RMV services for the Medical Affairs Bureau and the Ignition Interlock Department are now at the Haymarket Branch.
RMV ANNOUNCES RELOCATION OF SERVICES TO HAYMARKET RMV LOCATION
CONTACT: MassDOT Office of Legislative Affairs (857) 368-8916
Medical Affairs Bureau and Ignition Interlock Open in New Location August 24
The MassDOT Registry of Motor Vehicles today announced that the agency’s Medical Affairs Bureau and the Ignition Interlock Department will be relocating from the RMV’s Administrative Offices in Quincy to the Haymarket Branch at 136 Blackstone Street in Boston. These departments will open for business in the new Boston location on Monday, August 24, 2015.
Your constituents may be accustomed to visiting these departments in Quincy. Any assistance your office is able to provide in passing along this information is appreciated. We have included below for your reference more information on the services that these departments provide. As always, you are able to find additional information on our website, www.MassRMV.com
Medical Affairs customers should be referred to the third floor of the Haymarket Branch for service. Both departments are open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday. Please note that the branch opens to customers at 10am on Thursdays. The majority of Interlock business is by appointment only.
Medical Affairs Bureau:
The Medical Affairs Bureau issues disabled plates and placards to qualified Massachusetts residents who meet established eligibility criteria. The eligibility criteria to obtain a disabled plate or placard were developed in consultation with the Registry of Motor Vehicle’s Medical Advisory Board and in accordance with federal guidelines governing the issuance of disabled plates and placards.
The Medical Affairs Branch is primarily responsible for setting agency policies and procedures regarding physical qualifications for operator licensing. The Branch sets its policies in accordance with recommendations made by the Registry’s Medical Advisory Board. The Medical Advisory Board is appointed to the Registry by statute, Mass. Gen. Laws c. 90, sec. 8C, and consists of a panel of approximately 15 physicians of varying specialties. Currently, the Medical Affairs Branch has set minimum standards for vision qualifications, loss of consciousness and seizure conditions, and cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. When the Registry has cause to believe that a person may be unable to operate a motor vehicle due to any other condition not specifically addressed by the Registry’s minimum standards, the Medical Affairs Branch shall conduct an individualized assessment of that person’s qualifications to operate a motor vehicle safely.
Ignition Interlock Program:
Melanie’s Law passed on October 28, 2005. Its purpose is to enhance the penalties and administrative sanctions for Operating Under the Influence (OUI) offenders in Massachusetts. Melanie’s Law required the creation of a state run ignition interlock program by January 1, 2006. The RMV researched appropriate approaches and equipment, recruited vendors, established standards for operation drafted memorandums of agreement with approved vendors, and trained existing RMV staff to oversee the new program. Multiple OUI offenders are now required to install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) in their vehicle upon issuance of a hardship license or at full license reinstatement.
Upon installation of an IID a multiple offender’s license is reinstated with a Z restriction. The Z restriction stands for Massachusetts Zero tolerance for drunk driving and notifies law enforcement officials that individuals with this restriction may only operate a vehicle with an Ignition Interlock Device installed. 540 CMR 25.00 was created to establish guidelines and procedures for the certification, installation, use and maintenance of Ignition Interlock Devices. There are currently seven Ignition Interlock companies that install and maintain IID devices throughout the Commonwealth at numerous locations.
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