Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Registry’s main branch, which is located at 136 Blackstone Street in Boston appears to have been closed since Friday, April 3rd. This is the only location where Chemical Test Refusal Hearings are held and this also the only location in the state where the Registry holds Ignition Interlock Violation Hearings. The Registry also conducts hardship license hearings at this location.
The Covid-19 Pandemic has caused a major upheaval at both the Registry and Board of Appeal. The Board of Appeal has been forced to postpone hearings due to the need for social distancing and prohibitions against gatherings of 10 or more people.
Prior to the closure on April 3rd, the Registry was limiting the number of people coming into the building by stationing armed security personnel outside. In most cases, anyone who did not have pre-scheduled reservation was turned away.
The building may be closed so that it can be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized or employees may have tested positive for Covid-19. Disgruntled customers found a locked door and a sign stating that the location was closed. However, the location is not closed for hearings!
The Haymarket location is open for “walk-up” hearing requests today 4/7/2020. The Customer will complete “Suspension Hearing Application” & a Hearing Officer will call them back by phone. The customer must specify to Security Personnel that they are here for a suspension hearing and they will be allowed to submit the required paperwork.
All hearings at the Brockton RMV Branch were cancelled yesterday, April 6th. Prior to Covid-19, there was a severe shortage of Registry Hearing Officers. This pandemic may have made that shortage even worse.
It is currently unknown when the Registry’s Haymarket Service Center will re-open for regular business.
There are approximately 40 transactions which customers can complete on-line, via the Registry’s website. However, anyone who is attempting to obtain a hardship license or who is reinstating from a DUI suspension will need to go through the Registry’s hearing process and this cannot be done on-line.
Anyone who has a Finding and Order issued by the Division of Insurance Board of Appeal must submit that to a Registry Hearing Officer to initiate the reinstatement process and this must be done in person.