February 24, 2015

News from the CT Capitol: Tolls, Lockbox, Bristol Town Hall Meeting

This article was archived from the previous WordPress site. Formatting and media should be close, but may not match the original post perfectly.

In an effort to keep you informed, I wanted to share some important information with you.

Bristol Town Hall Meeting Mar. 9

I will join Sen. Henri Martin and Rep. Whitt Betts in hosting a Town Hall Meeting on Monday, March 9 at the Bristol Public Library’s Meeting Room 1.

We invite the public to come and hear an update from the State Capitol, and residents are encouraged to ask questions about any issue.

The meeting will run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

If you are unable to attend but would like to voice a concern please contact my office at 800-842-1423 or email cara.pavalock@housegop.ct.gov.
TOLLS

As you know, the issue of returning tolls to Connecticut’s highways has been widely discussed and debated this year.

I want you to know that the legislature’s Transportation committee will hold a public hearing on a bill to bring tolls back to Connecticut.

The bill is HB 6818, An Act Concerning the Establishment of Electronic Tolls at the State’s Borders.

The public hearing will be held on Wednesday, February 25th, at 10:30 AM in Room 1 E of the Legislative Office Building.

If you would like to testify in person to have your voice heard, you can get directions to the Legislative Office Building by clicking HERE.

If you are unable to attend in person but would like to submit testimony in writing, you can do so my submitting it via email to: tratestimony@cga.ct.gov.

I’m also interested to hear your opinion on this issue. Please email your written testimony to me at cara.pavalock@housegop.ct.gov.

DMV OFFICES TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE LOCATIONS

Recently the Connecticut DMV announced that it will be temporarily closing branch locations in order to upgrade outdated computer systems and software.The upgrades are being done to enhance the system and to improve online services, like registration renewals and special plate orders.

Closings are being alternated to reduce the inconvenience to state residents. Two offices per week will be closed, though one of the offices will still be able to handle learner’s permit tests.

The following DMV offices will be shut down on the following schedule:

Bridgeport and Norwalk offices, and the Stamford photo license center that is by appointment only from Feb. 17 to Feb. 20.
New Britain and Enfield offices from Feb. 24 to Feb. 27
Willimantic, Putnam and Norwich offices from March 3 to March 6
Waterbury, Winsted and Danbury offices from March 10 to March 13
Hamden and Old Saybrook offices from March 17 to March 20
Wethersfield office from March 24 to March 27

Please be prepared for possible delays while the upgrades are being implemented. You can check online wait times at ct.gov/dmv or by downloading DMV’s app at ct.gov/dmv/apps.

You can also renew vehicle registrations by mail or online, or use the nearest AAA office for license renewals to avoid lines.

For AAA locations, please click here.

The DMV website lists the following changes regarding the system upgrade:

Online transactions will include:

Improving the existing online registration renewal program
Online checking for items, such as unpaid property taxes, lack of insurance, and delinquent parking violations, which can hold up a registration renewal and cause repeat trips to DMV
Reprinting a registration certificate from a home or other computer
Canceling a registration online
Ordering online special plates, such as vanity plates
Ordering online replacements for mangled plates
Providing customers with an option for DMV to contact them either by mail or e-mail

The modernization of DMV’s computers has also paved the way for several other changes, including:

Learner’s permit testing by appointment
Real-time connections to DMV for leasing companies and car dealerships wanting to register vehicles purchased or leased by their customers
Checking driver’s license status
Viewing wait times at DMV Offices
Filling out a vehicle registration form at home and printing it
Car dealers being able to renew their business licenses.
Canceling lost or stolen license plates
Registration renewals for vehicle owners who have no outstanding obligations, such as delinquent property taxes, late emissions tests, unpaid parking tickets or other kinds of issues prohibiting renewal
International Registration Plan (IRP) renewal payments for trucking companies
Registration status checks
Vanity plate availability

For more on the closures, see attached report from Channel 3: