Armed Guards at Registry!

Path-Finder said:
The dealer lied to you. I think it's a dealer scam to get you to pay for new plates. As long as you can read the numbers on the plate the plate it's good. Some scumbag at Bouchard Nissan told me the same thing. I said no I'm just going to transfer them. He said he won't do it. I told him fine I'll buy a truck somewhere else.
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Nope, it was because front plate was faded and it wouldn't pass inspection. The Vet plates from the Mustang looked brand new because I never drove the car in winter. I was told it's because since they eliminated toll takers it's all by photo and the cameras were having a hard time reading faded front plates. I wanted the plates from Mustang on new vehicle because they are 5 digit Vet plates and like I say look brand new.
 
slugworth said:
They all have guards or registry police at them. Usually there’s a guy out front asking your name and do you have an appointment before they even let you in the building.
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Registry cops have been gone for decades, like Five, swept up into the MA State Police, along with Capitol police and the MDC cops
 
SFC13557 said:
The 3rd clerk I was shuffled to fixed the registration. After you get in line and finally make it to first clerk she tells me dealer needs to fix, salesman says dealer called Registry and was told I need to appear because of Vet plate. We get number and wait 1/2hr and finally get number called, walk to window hand male clerk both plates and incorrect Registration and explain situation and he says no go, dealership must fix. I point to salesman and he repeats that Dealer called Registry and was told I need to appear. He says no go, I need to go to insurance agent and get stamp and back to dealer to fix. I tell him negative and he pretty much tells us tough shit and to move on, he has other customers. I start calling my insurance agent and women in next station leans over and says I'll help you. :oops: We move to the right to her station, wait for her to finish with customer and I hand her plates and registration. She tells salesman dealership should be able to correct but says she will fix it. I'm glaring at the previous clerk and contemplating asking why he couldn't fix it but look back at the 3 Armed Guard and since I'm carrying I bite my tongue. 10 minutes later we're good to go and head back to dealer for sticker. This is why I was so pissed I had to deal with these morons, typical govt. stooges. Even the woman who helped us had no personality and when I thanked her for helping us she never even replied to me, not even your welcome.
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The RMV has the same issues every other organization has, some people know what they're doing and others don't. I have had people go to the RMV and get turned away for stuff I have seen accepted plenty of times before and have suggested that perhaps they try again at another branch or w/ another teller and it has gone smoothly. I have had people tell me the RMV person told them such and such which I know 100% to be patently wrong, and I have seen the RMV accept stuff they never should have accepted.

We started issuing plates (and doing transfers, etc.) in our office in January so 90% of the headaches are avoided. Prior to that we used a Runner who ran for us, another agency and one or two dealerships, we had a pretty good system going and rarely got rejections.
 
I was helping an Indian friend who was on assignment in the US for 9 month register a car he bought since the company did not provide a rental for that long of an assignment (he sold it to another rotating employee for $500 less 9 months later).

We were in line (year ago, they may not have had a number system) and a RMV woman with one of those private offices on the edge approached us and invited us into her office so could handle our transaction. WTF? Did she confuse me with someone important or something? Such great service that day you would have thought it was private sector.

Anyhow, the Indian wanted to know how we managed to get such service because he did not see me bribe anyone.
 

Wayback in 2008. From the Boston Herald​

​

RMV honcho aims to beef up security​

By CASEY ROSS |
PUBLISHED: February 27, 2008 at 12:00 a.m. | UPDATED: November 17, 2018 at 12:00 a.m.

The head of the state’s Registry of Motor Vehicles is looking to step up security at branches statewide, including hiring armed guards to quell potential outbreaks of violence.
“We want to protect our employees as best we can so they can do the public’s business,” said Registrar of Motor Vehicles Anne L. Collins. “We live in a time and age where everyone has to be on guard.”

Collins said the need for heightened security was underscored by an incident Friday in which a man allegedly threatened to line up and shoot employees at the agency’s Beverly branch. The man, Gary Woodbury, was reportedly upset he could not get a Massachusetts identification card without proof of residency.

No one was injured in the incident, but Collins said it raised concerns because state police are no longer a regular presence at RMV branches. Troopers stopped administering road tests for the Registry last summer.

Gov. Deval Patrick has included $1.4 million in his fiscal 2009 budget filing to improve security at RMV branches. The Registry must still await approval by the Legislature before it sees any of the money.

Collins said the cash would be used to pay for the security guards and other upgrades. She said new cameras and “panic buttons” have already been installed to allow RMV employees to immediately alert police in case of an incident.

There are no plans to provide weapons to rank-and-file employees, she said.

Registry employees routinely face angry customers because of requirements that they enforce a number of state laws. Collins said routine matters can become dicey when employees have to deny licenses to unregistered sex offenders or criminals with outstanding warrants.

“The Registry is a high volume office and . . . occasionally we get customers who don’t like to hear no for an answer,” she said.
 
Palladin said:
Registry cops have been gone for decades, like Five, swept up into the MA State Police, along with Capitol police and the MDC cops
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About 3 to be more accurate.
They were still a separate entity until 1992 when they, Capital and the MDC police were merged into the state police.
 
The state police are always there fully kit’ed up. They have to give the young people their driving test. They have been there for the last 40-50 years or longer as far as I know. I’ve never been to a Registry office and not seen a state police officer in full gear.
 
free said:
Here are those RMV cops. Real pricks they were.

View attachment 645767View attachment 645772
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I don't recall them to be in that good of shape or maybe I was traumatized by the 400 lb.'er that was in Brockton doing road tests back in the 80's
Anyway, you are correct in calling them pricks and the Mets weren't any better, they both sucked!
 
I will say that my interactions with the security dudes have been positive. The ones I've dealt with haven't been jaded like regular registry employees.
 
radioman said:
The state police are always there fully kit’ed up. They have to give the young people their driving test. They have been there for the last 40-50 years or longer as far as I know. I’ve never been to a Registry office and not seen a state police officer in full gear.
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I observed Registry employees in Registry Polo shirts administering driving road tests in parking lot when we arrived. They were not armed and not cops.
 
SFC13557 said:
I observed Registry employees in Registry Polo shirts administering driving road tests in parking lot when we arrived. They were not armed and not cops.
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MSP doesn’t do road testing anymore it is a mass dot registry examiner. Only road test MSP does nowadays is commercial drivers license
 
After dealer FUed registration they tried to convince me to go to Registry web site and order replacement plates. I replied that you told me I would get a reject sticker with faded plates and he said yes, after I get reject sticker I can order new plates. I said no f***ing way, why should I pay for replacement plates when I have a brand new set that were supposed to be registered to new vehicle. Also when I returned to dealership I told them they need to get clarification from RMV on the he said, she said question of can the dealer fix the issue.
 

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SFC13557 said:
After dealer FUed registration they tried to convince me to go to Registry web site and order replacement plates. I replied that you told me I would get a reject sticker with faded plates and he said yes, after I get reject sticker I can order new plates. I said no f***ing way, why should I pay for replacement plates when I have a brand new set that were supposed to be registered to new vehicle. Also when I returned to dealership I told them they need to get clarification from RMV on the he said, she said question of can the dealer fix the issue.
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Alright already.
 
Was in Watertown Rmv last week. Three armed. One skinny kid looked like he was ready to deploy to Ukraine. He had at least 5 mags on his belt. Once again the complete incompetence of the Rmv gave me another you’re not going to believe what happened this time story to add the two dozen I already have. A chain reaction of complete stupidity all started by some old bag at the check in desk who just wouldn’t listen. Too long to go into detail but suffice to say I bounced around to ten different people before one person finally figured out the old bag sent me to the business to business window and should’ve just given me a deli ticket number. Complete shit show of utter incompetence. Unfortunately it’s like a school board meeting. If you raise your voice one octave you’re a domestic terrorist and call the police on you. Ask me how I know.
 
StevieP said:
^ This. Hard. Add in 90+ degree heat and a government-induced recession, and people are stressed to the breaking point.
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It's because they're incompetent and a typical unaccountable govt. agency staffed by employees who don't GAF and act like they're doing you a favor.
 
Roadglide said:
Was in Watertown Rmv last week. Three armed. One skinny kid looked like he was ready to deploy to Ukraine. He had at least 5 mags on his belt. Once again the complete incompetence of the Rmv gave me another you’re not going to believe what happened this time story to add the two dozen I already have. A chain reaction of complete stupidity all started by some old bag at the check in desk who just wouldn’t listen. Too long to go into detail but suffice to say I bounced around to ten different people before one person finally figured out the old bag sent me to the business to business window and should’ve just given me a deli ticket number. Complete shit show of utter incompetence. Unfortunately it’s like a school board meeting. If you raise your voice one octave you’re a domestic terrorist and call the police on you. Ask me how I know.
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Correct, that's why I didn't give 2nd clerk shit. As I was glaring at him when 3rd woman told me she could fix it I could see him looking from me to the Guards. I know if I asked him why he didn't know his job I would have been escorted from building by the Barney Fifes and would still be in RMV limbo with more he said, she said BS. As I mentioned previously even when the competent female employee agreed to help fix the problem she wouldn't even look me in the eye and when I thanked her and complimented her she didn't even reply "You're welcome". What business doesn't insist their employee's say Thank You and you're welcome to their customers? Govt!
 
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slugworth said:
They all have guards or registry police at them. Usually there’s a guy out front asking your name and do you have an appointment before they even let you in the building.
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No more Registy Police, they got brought into MSP decades ago at the same time MDC did. From what I recall the Staties were extremely pissed off about it.
 
The registries have been a real PITA since they embraced covid vacations. An appointment for everything and to walk the gauntlet of guards asking if I do have an appointment. Sometimes you want to just be a wise ass and say no, it's only been a few years since you started this bullshit so this is all new to me. I ended up getting my renewal real ID at my local AAA. A much better experience, screw .gov run anything.
 
Cphobes said:
Last time I went I was darn near knocked over by the stench of weed on several of the other patrons. Couldn't believe it...

Newbie question: Can you carry at the RMV? I don't see it listed as a place where you can't.
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Yes, no law prohibits ccw at RMV.

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As for the armed guards, when I lived in MA and had to go to the RMV, I went to Brockton RMV. Most there were either turning in suspended licenses or trying to get them back after suspension. With the seedy characters in and around that building, no way that you'd want to be there unarmed.

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Now in NH, registrations are done at the town clerk's office. Other than the annual cost exceeds double the MA cost (including MA excise tax, also x2), it is an easy 2 minute task without attitude.
 
Roadglide said:
Was in Watertown Rmv last week. Three armed. One skinny kid looked like he was ready to deploy to Ukraine. He had at least 5 mags on his belt. Once again the complete incompetence of the Rmv gave me another you’re not going to believe what happened this time story to add the two dozen I already have. A chain reaction of complete stupidity all started by some old bag at the check in desk who just wouldn’t listen. Too long to go into detail but suffice to say I bounced around to ten different people before one person finally figured out the old bag sent me to the business to business window and should’ve just given me a deli ticket number. Complete shit show of utter incompetence. Unfortunately it’s like a school board meeting. If you raise your voice one octave you’re a domestic terrorist and call the police on you. Ask me how I know.
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I think it's getting worse at the RMV branches since the smart/experienced/connected employees are still working remotely if they can. Definitely see that the branch experience is getting worse, however the non-branch offerings are getting better. Pre Covid we didn't have temporary plates and what can now be done DIY online, or via AAA or is available to insurance agents more than makes up for it IMO.
 

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