E-Mail Replacing RMV's Notices

By Tony Dobrowolski, The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, Mass.

May 11--PITTSFIELD -- The state Registry of Motor Vehicles is considering using a private company to send out the driver's license renewal notices that it eliminated as a cost-cutting measure last fall.

But a private auto insurance company is already set to fill that void.

Beginning on May 11, the Plymouth Rock Assurance Corp. of Boston will offer state motorists an opportunity to receive free e-mail reminders within 30 days of a license's expiration date. Plymouth Rock will also offer free registration and annual auto inspection renewal notices, a service that the RMV still provides.

Plymouth Rock began sending e-mail license reminders to its customers after the RMV discontinued the practice on Nov. 3, but now intends to offer the service to the general public, said company Vice President Paula Gold.

'Private company stepping up'

Company Chairman James M. Stone, who founded Plymouth Rock in 1982, was a state insurance commissioner in the 1970s.

"I think it's an example of a private company stepping up to the plate with the kinds of services that a company can provide," Gold said.

State motorists can sign up for the service online by visiting MYLESereminder.prac .com. To enroll, motorists must have a valid state driver's license and an e-mail address.

"If we can do something positive in terms of Plymouth Rock it would be a benefit for the company in terms of future

sales," she said.

Reminder customer numbers up

According to Plymouth Rock, the number of customers that have signed up for its reminder program has increased from 534 in November, the last month that the RMV sent out license reminders, to 1,171 in February.

The RMV is not aware of any other private company that is offering services similar to Plymouth Rock's, said agency spokeswoman Ann C. Dufresne. But the RMV has been "investigating a partnership" with a private company to provide the service that it discontinued last fall.

"It's in the vetting process," Dufresne said. "We put the proposal out to bid."

Last fall, state Registrar Rachel Karpelian said eliminating the mailing of renewal notices was expected to save the RMV between $60,000 and $80,000. Besides license, and state identification reminders, the RMV also eliminated reminders for the renewals of school pupil transport licenses, and driver education certificates, along with the mailing of junior operator brochures to parents.

But Dufresne said the elimination of the license renewal notices hasn't resulted in any additional hardships for motorists. According to RMV statistics, 71 percent of state motorists renewed their driver's licenses on time in December, a number that jumped to 75.2 percent in January, and increased further to 83.6 percent in February, Dufresne said. In November the number of on-time license renewals was 62.5 percent. The state numbers have not been broken down by county.

"It looks like people are taking personal responsibility," Dufresne said. "We're cautiously optimistic... We like to see more information before we spot trends."

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