Considering how frustrating dealing with the RMV has been lately, they're probably afraid someone's gonna go ballistic at some point.

Im old enough to remember when the Registry had its own police force.

so did the MDC and the Capitol back then… was it the early 90’s they all merged with the State Police?

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I feel like your use of “questioned” and “escorted” is to exaggerate the situation. It probably went something like this:

Guard: Hi, what are you here for?

You: Need to renew my license

Guard: Makes waving motion You can wait right over here

Still does. The uniform on the guys says RMV police.

We had a former MDC police officer come to work for us.. after two months, he got fired for stealing from the company funds..

It’s a job that’s available

Yep, that’s what it was like for me a couple months ago. “Do you have appointment? Check in over here and then sit over there. Good luck.”

You should have pleaded the Fifth and responded that you never talk to cops without your lawyer present.

Old enough to remember when fully uniformed state troopers gave driving tests.

Try a different branch then? They're not all like that.

They’re at every RMV. They’re afraid someone’s going to take their problems out on the RMV and go ballistic. It’s easier to hire armed guards than to provide taxpayers with a decent registry

Did they intimidate you or something? Who cares as long as they didn't inconvenience you.

Same. I held the door for him and then all he did was have me do a 3 point turn behind bjs in Leominster

Because people are freakin psycho and are no longer able to control themselves when out in public

Me too! One of the guys was our (volunteer) Fire Chief in town for a long time. Great guy!

😆😆😆😆😆

Rmv does a huge amount of cash transactions! May be that’s why!

They worried one of the people they keep pissing off and fucking over is going to come and go crazy on them

go to AAA instead, some sweet lady named Lois and I made small talk about our Christmas plans and she processed my REAL ID paperwork in about ten minutes flat.

Hahah...I got my license with a statey there too, many moons ago. My adult son was kvetching about his license test and I was all "Listen here, young whippersnapper, at least the old guy from the registry wasn't ARMED."

>So much whining.

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Yes, but the guard was armed. With a Glock 9mm, specifically. Very troubling stuff... apparently.

I was happy to see them at the Lawrence one last time I went. That whole plaza is something else

It’s absurd. Bring your own GLOCK 9mm if it makes you feel better, but conceal it

Holy SHIT did you almost DIE??

Quincy just had you drive around the block.

>I feel like your use of “questioned” and “escorted” is to exaggerate the situation.

If one wants the real questioned/searched/scanned/escorted experience probate/family court is the place to be, not the RMV.

Exactly this. It was worse in the past, though. I remember going to the Registry in Marlborough in the late 70s... They were so slow that the line extended well into the parking lot. After you stood in that line for an hour or more, and got "helped" by an employee, you had to go stand in another ( shorter ) cashier line to pay for your transactions.

Also, the RMV workers were butthurt at the time because Massachusetts voters had passed some economic cutback measures... So, besides being jerks to deal with in person, they absolutely would not answer phone calls. I remember listening to the phone ring for an hour while I stood in line... it never did get picked up.

RMV really did improve their service a few decades back, making it just a pain in the butt to go there, versus the soul crushing bureaucratic experience it was in the past.

Brockton office? Lol

If only AAA membership weren't required to do that.

Should every public office have armed guards? Should all schools?

Not for me to decide. I'm pro 2A

Wait until you have to apply for food stamps. You’ll get multiple armed guards at each entrance :)

The “armed rent a cop” at greenfield RMV is a retired corrections officer, and the Chief of police of a town, and a Sergeant on another police force. More than qualified to have a Glock on his side. I don’t think you can open carry as a security guard in MA unless you are a currently sworn law enforcement officer. I think your experience boils down to an implicit bias you have against officers. Have you had bad experiences with them in the past? Individuals who regularly encounter police officers, are usually encountering them because they are having a bad day, doing something illegal, or regularly engage in illegal activity. Let me let you in on a little secret, they can’t read your mind. They are trained to read your facial expressions and body language however. Look past the uniform, they are just people. If you smile and say hi when you encounter them, they will most likely respond in kind.

It’s almost work the membership fee just to avoid RMV once every 5 years.

Melrose Armory. Easy driving test.

We had to parallel park….on Cape Cod.

Just did this myself because I had a name and address change to process at the same time as an upgrade to REAL ID (got married and moved a week after the wedding). Was worth the membership fee for the convenience alone.

What?

It’s like $5 a month for so many benefits.

Reference to your exaggerated account of the situation.

Why wouldn’t you have a AAA membership?

Because I get roadside assistance as part of car insurance for much cheaper.

I admit I don't know about the benefits beyond roadside assistance, which is cheaper through car insurance, and this RMV services benefit.

Given what I've read about RMV difficulties since 2020, you may be right.

Unless you pay for an extra package the "roadside assistance" on your typical policy only covers if you're involved in an accident. AAA covers you no matter what the reason. If your battery dies your insurance policy normally doesn't cover that, whereas AAA will.

Also most insurance doesn’t have the network or amount of tow trucks and on the road assistance personnel as trip A. Also insurance general reimburses you after you pay for a tow where’s AAA gives x amount 100 mile towed a year.

Flat tire, dead battery, quick tow, locked keys in car, tire change, easy and faster passport and DL renewal or replacement…I think the annual membership fee is cheap as fuck,

This hasn't been my experience. I've had my battery jump started a couple of times on my insurance's roadside assistance program.