Mass. RMV Reminds Residents of Real ID Deadline
The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is reminding residents that beginning May 7, 2025, anyone traveling by plane domestically or entering certain federal facilities will need a Registry-issued REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or ID, or a valid passport. The Registry is strongly encouraging everyone seeking a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card to go online now at Mass.Gov/REALID to learn what documents are needed for a required in-person appointment. Appointments are available right now. Customers who already have a compliant credential may renew online as long as they have not had a name change.
The fee to obtain or renew a REAL ID compliant credential is the same as obtaining or renewing the equivalent non-compliant credential:
• The fee for renewing a non-commercial standard or a REAL ID driver’s license is $50.
• The fee for renewing a Mass ID is $25.
• The amendment fee for upgrading to a standard or REAL ID credential before an existing credential’s expiration is $25.
• Customers with a less than five-year stay in the U.S. pay a pro-rated fee.
“Do not wait. We are six months away from the REAL ID federal requirement going into effect and strongly urge Massachusetts residents who wish to upgrade to a REAL ID-compliant credential
to act as soon as possible,” said Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie. “For customers who qualify for a REAL ID and want to renew and upgrade, we recommend you schedule your appointment at least three weeks before your birthday so that you can receive your credential in the mail ahead of your expiration. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, and its partner AAA Northeast, have successfully been issuing REAL ID credentials since 2018 and are prepared for interested residents prior to the May 2025 deadline.”
ABCC Kicks Off ‘Operation Safe Holidays’
To ensure safety for everyone in Massachusetts during the holidays, the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) will be conducting alcohol enforcement at local bars in Massachusetts cities and towns from Thanksgiving Eve through New Year’s Eve.
In doing so, the ABCC hopes to prevent accidents caused by impaired driving and other alcohol-related harm that often occurs at this time of year. The ABCC will work with municipal police departments and focus enforcement efforts at bars that have been identified as the last to sell alcohol to a convicted drunk driver and other high-risk locations.
“It is extremely important to deter bars from over-serving and prevent problems before they happen,” said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, who oversees the ABCC. “We want to keep people safe and make sure everyone can enjoy the holidays with their family and friends, avoiding tragedies before they occur.”
The program is run in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Impaired Driving Crackdown, from Thanksgiving Eve through New Year’s Eve, and is funded through the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security – Highway Safety Division.
According to the NHTSA, from 2017 to 2021, 137 drivers involved in fatal crashes on Thanksgiving Eve (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.), also known as ‘Blackout Wednesday,’ were alcohol impaired. In 2021 alone, 36 drivers were in fatal crashes on that day. Also, from 2017 to 2021, young drivers ages 21-24 represented the largest percentage of drivers involved in deadly crashes. The message before Thanksgiving is simple – the NHTSA says to stop the blackout trend on Wednesday.
Alcohol is involved in 40 percent of traffic crash fatalities, resulting in 17,013 fatalities and injuring an estimated 275,000 people annually. Data indicates that well over 50% of impaired driving arrests originate at bars.