Mass. legislators upset over RMV branch closing

NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH, Mass.—State representatives said Wednesday that closing the North Attleborough branch of the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles will cost Gov. Deval Patrick when he runs for re-election.

“People are incensed and I think for the governor, this is going to be a political hot button when he’s running for re-election. We represent over 110,000 people and we’re going to remember this,“ said state Rep. Betty Poirier.

The North Attleborough office, located at 555 Kelley Blvd., is scheduled to close on Friday.

Some residents said they’re going to miss the local registry office.

“I like it. It’s close to my house,“ said Midiline Joseph of North Attleborough. “Anytime I can come here.“

“If we have to go to either Taunton or Milford, I’m sure it’s going to be much busier,“ Bernie Silva said.

The state’s budget woes are to blame for the branch’s closing. The state would have to pay $128,000 next year to lease the building.

Registrar of Motor Vehicles Rachel Kaprielian said she’s looking at a rest area on Route 95 in Middleboro to establish a smaller express center.

“We’re paying for leases where we don’t have to be paying for leases,“ she said. “We’ve done that a lot already.“

Kaprielian said the state is saving millions, but some legislators allege the process was done behind closed doors and not in the best interests of local drivers.

“I want people to remember one thing, when people are waiting in line for hours and hours, and losing work, paying babysitters and missing lunch, you can thank Deval Patrick,“ said state Sen. Scott Brown.

If the Middleboro rest area becomes a branch, it will take a couple of months to build.