Hearing will be Held on Mass. RMV Move to Charlton

A hearing will be held later this month regarding the moving of the Mass. Registry of Motor Vehicles from a high rent location in Southbridge to a free location at the Mass. Pike Service Area in Charlton.

The new Charlton RMV Branch opened on August 10th when the Southbridge Branch was closed to save money. Citizens and politicians alike have criticized the move, claiming that the new Registry location in Charlton is in an inconvenient and unsafe location which is difficult to access.

The Registry’s move from Southbridge tor Charlton was part of a cost saving reorganization where the RMV moved almost a dozen branches from expensive locations, where the Registry was paying to lease the space, to public buildings where the space is free. This will save millions of dollars.

There are no Registry Hearings Officers at the Charlton RMV Branch. This means that drivers who are seeking hardship licenses or have license suspension-related issues should go to another branch. The Mass. RMV Branch in Worcester conducts hearings from Monday through Friday during the branch’s normal business hours. Certain suspension cases, such as breathalyzer refusal appeals and ignition interlock violation hearings, are only heard at the Registry’s Driver Control Unit, which is located at the Boston RMV.