Disabled Veterans Can Benefit from HERO Act at RMV

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Boston — Ahead of Veterans Day 2024, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) and Executive Office of Veterans Services are reminding veterans they are eligible to receive fee waivers for various transactions at the RMV due to the most comprehensive piece of veterans' legislation in Massachusetts history which was signed into law by Governor Healey in August 2024.

The HERO Act, (An Act Honoring, Empowering, and Recognizing our Servicemembers and Veterans), includes over 30 provisions positively impacting veterans, including specific transactions veterans may conduct at the RMV. 

"The expansion of the HERO Act enables us to show additional gratitude toward veterans who served and sacrificed for our country," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. "While these benefits are just a small token, we hope all qualifying individuals will make full use of them in their dealings with the Registry. On behalf of all our MassDOT employees, we say ‘thank you' to veterans for your service."?    

Every motor vehicle registered in Massachusetts is subject to the annual excise tax, unless exempted. Under the HERO Act expansion, all Massachusetts residents who qualify as a disabled veteran are now eligible to receive the excise tax exemption. To qualify, they must present a letter from the U.S. Veterans Affairs Office to the city or town where their vehicle is garaged. 

In addition, disabled veterans are no longer required to pay a vehicle registration fee for any vehicle registered in their name.  Previously, this benefit could only be applied to one vehicle registered in their name. Also, all of these veterans are no longer required to pay a transaction fee for a passenger driver's license or for a passenger driver's license renewal.       

A disabled veteran is determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to either have a combined service-connected disability rating of 100 percent or be individually unemployable due to their service-connected disability. 

The legislation signed into law by Governor Healey in August 2024 increases benefits, modernizes services and promotes inclusivity for veterans in Massachusetts. In addition to provisions impacting veterans who drive, the legislation expands access to behavioral health treatment, supports businesses that hire veterans, updates the definition of a veteran, expands the Veterans Equality Review Board's scope, and codifies medical and dental benefits.  

RMV information for military service members, veterans, and their families can be found at mass.gov/military-and-veteran-rmv-information.


Tags: RMV,   veterans,   

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Dalton Division Road Project in Pre-25 Percent Design Stage

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The town's engineers say there is still time to work through the Dalton Division Road project’s design and permitting process. 
 
In December, the Select Board voted to advocate for Concept A, which would have sidewalks on both sides, a 5-foot bike lane in the road on both sides with a buffer, and a 2-foot painted buffer between the vehicle lane and in the bike lane. They also recommended the two-way stop control option. 
 
Since that decision, there have been sentiments to revisit this decision to reduce the cost and improve safety at the intersection off Williams Street, Washington Mountain Road, and Mountain Road. 
 
The original vote would have been the most expensive and "certainly not" the engineer or the state's "preferred design," Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson said during a meeting in November. 
 
During last week's Select Board meeting, Fuss & O'Neil project manager and senior traffic engineer Steve Savaria represented the options, explained potential obstacles, and demonstrated the next steps. Present board members have yet to vote on their final choice. 
 
The project is still in the pre-25 percent design stage and is currently on the fiscal year 2029 Transportation Improvement Program list, so there is "plenty of time" to work out the details. 
 
Since the original vote, some board members have shifted their opinion toward advocating for the most feasible and timely option with a "path of least resistance to get this project done." 
 
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