Both services have opened for business at their new home in the Haymarket building on August 24th
The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles has moved both its Medical Affairs Bureay and the Ignition Interlock Department from its Administrative Offices in Quincy to the RMV’s flagship branch located at Haymarket. Both of these departments opened for business in their new home on August 24th.
According to the RMV, Medical Affairs customers should head to the third floor of the Haymarket Branch for service. Most Interlock business is by appointment only. Both departments are open from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday, however, on the Haymarket branch opens on Thursdays at 10am.
For more information on what each of these services provide to RMV customers, the Mass. RMV has provided the following description:
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.
