Latest news with #RegistryofMotorVehicles
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
REAL ID required to visit Westover Air Reserve Base
CHICOPEE — Visitors to the Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee will not be able to enter without a valid REAL ID, according to a statement from the base. The policy stems from a U.S. Department of Defense and Air Force regulation that will go into effect Wednesday. People who have identification, such as a state-issued driver's license or IDs that do not meet REAL ID standards, will not be accepted, the statement said. The REAL ID differs from a standard ID, as it is a valid federal identification. A standard ID can also be renewed online without going to the Registry of Motor Vehicles, whereas a REAL ID requires you to verify your identity at the RMV in person. Enhanced driver's licenses, which include an American flag icon, also meet REAL ID requirements, according to the statement. There are also a number of identification cards that work as an alternative to REAL IDs: U.S. passport; U.S. passport card; original Social Security card; or an original birth certificate. Visitors are encouraged to make sure their identification cards meet base requirements prior to arriving at the base. For more information, contact the Westover Visitor Control Center at 413-557-2012, which is open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Family of woman fatally struck in crosswalk with dog sues West Springfield Guitarist rooted in hope shares his songs with Springfield Westfield utility begins four years of gas-line upgrades People in Business May 5, 2025 Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Suffolk DA blasts judge for dismissing case of man detained by ICE midtrial
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden on Thursday admonished a state court judge for dismissing the case of a man arrested by ICE mid-trial and asked federal authorities to investigate what they described as ICE's violation of its own procedures. Wilson Martell-Lebron was detained by ICE near Boston Municipal Court last month after the first day of his trial for falsifying information to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Judge Mark Summerville, who was overseeing the trial, dismissed the case against Martell-Lebron with prejudice, finding prosecutors knowingly allowed him to be taken into federal custody. Summerville also held ICE agent Brian Sullivan in contempt, a finding thrown out in federal court at the request of U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah Foley's office. But in a letter Thursday, Hayden blasted Summerville for apparently failing to take steps to ensure Martell-Lebron's trial could continue after he was detained by ICE. Prosecutors told the judge ICE would bring Martell-Lebron to court if he ordered them to do so. Hayden wrote that Summerville's decision to hold Sullivan in contempt of court and refer him for prosecution was 'patently illegal.' The district attorney said his office has no authority to prosecute a federal agent. It's the latest development in a case that has essentially pitted local prosecutors against the federal government amid the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Hayden's office said it intends to appeal Summerville's decision to dismiss the case. Hayden's letter faults Summerville's finding of prosecutorial misconduct, saying Massachusetts law precluded him from lumping two Massachusetts State Police troopers and Sullivan, the ICE agent, in with the prosecution team. The letter also takes aim at ICE for interfering with the proceeding, with Hayden writing that the agency ignored its own protocols, which would typically prevent the arrest of a person on trial in state court. Hayden notes that his office has no authority to prosecute Sullivan, but writes that 'the interruption of a criminal trial by ICE impedes local law enforcement and is contrary to the interests of justice.' Still, Hayden says, there was no evidence ICE attempted to prevent Martell-Lebron's trial from continuing. 'The record reflects that ICE would have returned the defendant to court if Judge Summerville had merely issued a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to the directives of the Massachusetts Trial Court,' the letter reads. 'Had Judge Summerville simply followed the law and the procedures of the Chief Justice of the Trial Court, the trial could have continued after only a slight delay.' When Summerville ruled Sullivan was in contempt, he said he had done everything in his power to ensure Martell-Lebron's trial would continue. Hayden said that was simply not true, and that the finding of contempt violated 'basic facts' of the Supremacy Clause. Summerville also found there was an 'ethical obligation' for the prosecution to inform Martell-Lebron's lawyer about the pending ICE action, and faulted the district attorney's office for improperly training its prosecutors. Hayden took issue with that claim, writing that no such obligation existed. Had prosecutors notified Martell-Lebron's lawyer of the pending federal action, they risked federal prosecution, Hayden said, pointing to the case of Judge Shelley Joseph, who was indicted after prosecutors said she intentionally let a man evade detention by ICE. To that end, Foley, in an open letter to Hayden, said 'any attempt or threat to interfere with the lawful actions of federal agents will not be tolerated.' (The district attorney's office says it never received the letter). Hayden's letter notes that Massachusetts law prevents the detention of a person solely on the basis of a federal civil immigration detainer and that hiking a person's bail to ensure they remain in custody is a legal question pending before the Supreme Judicial Court. Still, Hayden places much of the blame on ICE for arresting Martell-Lebron in the first place. 'We do not know why ICE decided to take the unprecedented step of arresting the defendant midtrial, interfering with a state criminal prosecution and preventing this office from holding the defendant accountable, but it certainly was not to protect the public,' he wrote. 'This interruption of a criminal trial makes the public less safe.' Government 'obligated' to bring Rümeysa Öztürk to Vermont, judge rules 32-story Boston office building sells for $100M below assessed value Polls find Americans souring on Trump's handling on major issue Italian restaurant in Boston hotel quietly closes after 7 years Famous band's member 'never once received a royalty' for millions of albums Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Make a list, check it twice when applying for Real ID
The best possible advice for Massachusetts residents seeking to upgrade their regular driver's licenses to a federal Real ID comes from Santa Claus, who makes a yearly list and checks it twice. Anyone venturing to one of the 21 Registry of Motor Vehicles offices throughout the state should study the list of required documents, write it down and check it at least twice before venturing out. The deadline for upgrading to a federal ID, required for domestic airplane flights and entrance to federal buildings, is May 7. It can be differentiated from a standard Massachusetts driver's license by a white star on a gold background in the upper left corner. Vanessa Hunter traveled from Randolph to Cambridge to pick up her mother, Rosemarie, and take her to the Boston location after learning through news reports that all RMV offices across Massachusetts were accepting walk-in requests. While walk-ins can be accommodated in certain circumstances, the women were turned away in the afternoon when the lines at the Boston office threatened to snake down the stairs and out the door. 'We were told that we would just be given another day to come back,' Vanessa Hunter said. She had meticulously gathered her mother's paperwork to ensure they had every paper they needed. "The line was so long, it was frustrating." So what paperwork do Massachusetts residents need to upgrade to the federal document? First: proof of legal presence in the United States. This could be a birth certificate issued by an American municipality or an American passport. Second: proof of legal residence in Massachusetts. This could include a standard driver's license and two proofs of residence, such as a bank statement, credit card statement, utility bill, car insurance card or registration. There is a list on the RMV website. And finally, proof of having been issued a Social Security number. This could be an unlaminated Social Security card, a tax return showing the full number or a pay stub also showing the full number. A spokesperson for the agency suggested residents familiarize themselves with the documents listed on the agency's website. Next, check that they carry all the paperwork with them. A woman from Roxbury stood in line for hours only to be told to come back another day. She had forgotten her pay stub with her Social Security number and proof of Massachusetts residency. A Somerville woman who waited a month for her appointment also had the misfortune of forgetting one of the crucial documents, one that proves she lives in Massachusetts. But she was assured she could return April 22 and walk right in to deliver her paperwork. Residents who had made appointments said the process was smooth, despite having to wait a month between scheduling the appointment and being seen. According to a spokesperson, the state agency releases new appointment times and dates every hour during business hours. If there are none available in Worcester when a resident first goes online, they can check back an hour later to see if appointments have opened up. One caveat: To acquire a Real ID, residents must already have a valid, unexpired ID. A Dorchester college student learned the hard way: Lacking a valid state identification card, she had to apply for that first and will have to return to the RMV once she receives it to apply for her Real ID. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Make a list, check it twice when applying for Real ID
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mass. RMV monitoring potential for ‘phased enforcement' as Real ID deadline looms
Massachusetts officials do not expect travelers without Real IDs to face a 'hard stop' immediately once enforcement of the enhanced identification requirements take effect in May, the head of the Registry of Motor Vehicles told lawmakers Monday. 'Don't wait until the last minute': Ready for the REAL ID deadline? Here's what you need to know Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie said the federal Transportation Security Administration published a final rule shortly before President Donald Trump took office that could implement a 'phased enforcement' of Real ID requirements. 'That program went through, but then we had a change in leadership at the federal government level. We're awaiting guidance and information on the policy on phased enforcement,' Ogilvie said at a state budget hearing. 'An agency would have to apply with a plan to the federal government to qualify for phased enforcement.' She added, 'What we've heard from our Transportation Security Administration partners over the last several months is that they would not do any hard stop of somebody that didn't have a Real ID government-issued document upon travel on May 7, that they would ask people for additional identification, hand them a flyer and say, 'You really need to look into, if you don't have an active U.S. passport, to potentially get one of these if you're qualified.' So we don't think there's going to be a hard stop, and we also do not think the [enforcement] date is going to expand.' Starting May 7, driver's licenses and identification cards that are not Real ID-compliant will no longer be accepted for domestic air travel or for entering federal buildings and nuclear power plants. Those without a compliant ID will instead need to present an alternative such as a passport or passport card. About 57% of eligible Massachusetts residents have acquired a Real ID, a rate that Ogilvie previously said lags most other states. She attributed some of the lackluster takeup to the fact that the federal government has extended the rollout several times. Ogilvie recalled that the original checklist for Real ID compliance came out in 2005. Rep. Todd Smola of Warren told Ogilvie he's worried that more than four in 10 Bay Staters still do not have Real IDs five weeks from the enforcement deadline. 'I can envision all of my colleagues up here getting the telephone calls from constituents who can't get on planes and who can't meet the requirements to get into a federal building of Real ID,' he said. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
RMV monitoring potential for 'phased' Real ID enforcement
BOSTON (SHNS) – Massachusetts officials do not expect travelers without Real IDs to face a 'hard stop' immediately once enforcement of the enhanced identification requirements take effect in May, the head of the Registry of Motor Vehicles told lawmakers Monday. Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie said the federal Transportation Security Administration published a final rule shortly before President Donald Trump took office that could implement a 'phased enforcement' of Real ID requirements. 'That program went through, but then we had a change in leadership at the federal government level. We're awaiting guidance and information on the policy on phased enforcement,' Ogilvie said at a state budget hearing. 'An agency would have to apply with a plan to the federal government to qualify for phased enforcement.' She added, 'What we've heard from our Transportation Security Administration partners over the last several months is that they would not do any hard stop of somebody that didn't have a Real ID government-issued document upon travel on May 7, that they would ask people for additional identification, hand them a flyer and say, 'You really need to look into, if you don't have an active U.S. passport, to potentially get one of these if you're qualified.' So we don't think there's going to be a hard stop, and we also do not think the [enforcement] date is going to expand.' Starting May 7, driver's licenses and identification cards that are not Real ID-compliant will no longer be accepted for domestic air travel or for entering federal buildings and nuclear power plants. Those without a compliant ID will instead need to present an alternative such as a passport or passport card. About 57% of eligible Massachusetts residents have acquired a Real ID, a rate that Ogilvie previously said lags most other states. She attributed some of the lackluster takeup to the fact that the federal government has extended the rollout several times. Ogilvie recalled that the original checklist for Real ID compliance came out in 2005. Rep. Todd Smola of Warren told Ogilvie he's worried that more than four in 10 Bay Staters still do not have Real IDs five weeks from the enforcement deadline. 'I can envision all of my colleagues up here getting the telephone calls from constituents who can't get on planes and who can't meet the requirements to get into a federal building of Real ID,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
