PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Renewing a driver's license or registration just got easier.

 

The state Department of Transportation and AAA have teamed up locally to expand convenience of Registry of Motor Vehicle services. AAA members can now access all of those services from the organization's Pittsfield branch instead of having to go to the RMV.

 

"We want to make it easy and convenient to obtain registry services," said Mary Tibma, said RMV deputy registrar for external affairs.

 

State and AAA officials cut a ribbon at the AAA branch on Merrill Road on Monday, which becomes the 23rd AAA branch in the state to offer the services to its members. AAA Senior Vice President of Public and Government Affairs Lloyd Albert said there are 11 more eyed in the state to do just the same.

 

"We'll keep rolling until the state is fully deployed," Albert said. 

 

The efforts date back to 2009, when the state Legislature approved expanding services. State Rep. Paul Mark, D-Peru, said the agreement is "a great example of public-private partnerships we strive for in state government." While state Sen. Adam Hinds said many of the constituent service calls his office receives are related to the RMV. 

 

"We're always looking for ways to improve how government works for residents and constituents. This is an area we get a lot of calls, RMV issues, so what I love about this is it is a win-win, everyone benefits," Hinds said.

 

Tibma said by allowing AAA members to get those services at the branch, it alleviates congestion at the RMV location, providing better service to residents. State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, D-Pittsfield, used the example of her elderly parents, who have a difficult time getting to the RMV branch.

 

"For them to go to the RMV, it is technically handicap accessible, but it is a long walk from the car," Farley-Bouvier said. 

 

Meanwhile, her whole family has AAA and when her children get old enough to drive, they'll have it, too. She said the partnership makes it a lot easier for drivers to obtain all of the needed services in one place.

 

Tibma added that it also allows residents the ability to obtain those services on Saturdays when the RMV is closed. 

 

1Berkshire President Jonathan Butler also spoke saying that in the Berkshires vehicles are a necessity and it also provides convenience to visitors. 

 

Albert said the program has been taking hold. In the last year, he said at the branches already offering the service license renewals are up 185 percent and registration renewals are up 109 percent.