Emergency Vehicles – Move Over & Save a Life
Posted by Cassandra in Consumer Advocacy on July 27th, 2010
Police across Massachusetts and New Hampshire have announced they will be increasing their efforts in enforcing the laws requiring drivers to move over when an emergency vehicle is stopped on the side of the road. State police in New Hampshire report about 25 accidents a year in which troopers or their vehicles were struck by other vehicles when stopped at construction details or traffic stops.
The seriousness of this measure needs to be understood by all. This past July 17th 2010 a Massachusetts trooper was sitting in his cruiser after pulling a driver over when he was struck by another motorist. The second motorist who collided with the trooper’s cruiser was cited on DWI charges however police note distracted driving is one of the greatest factors in these accidents.
New Hampshire and Massachusetts police said they are doing their best to educate drivers of the law requiring motorists to move over a lane when an emergency vehicle’s lights are flashing. The state police have also noted they will be enforcing this law with greater diligence. Some drivers have complained it’s difficult to move over a lane due to additional traffic – in these cases the state police have said the motorist should slow down or face a fine.
Trooper Thomas Lencki was able to escape an accident in 2003 where another motorist crashed into the back of his vehicle:
“I noticed an SUV coming into the breakdown lane at a high rate of speed… I was able to move a little bit to protect myself and the woman, and he hit me at about 78 mph, pushed me into the Jersey barrier and then pushed me into her.”
Distracted driving can have grave consequences. If you see an emergency vehicle flashing lights, move over a lane – you may just save a life.
Drunk Driving Crack Down
Posted by Cassandra in Consumer Advocacy, Legislation on July 21st, 2010
The head of the state police union Rick Brown is calling for additional officials to help take impaired drivers off the road:
“We need extra patrols out there looking for drunk drivers, especially in the summer. If we put more saturation patrols in these areas, maybe you start taking some of these drivers off the roads.’’
- Rick Brown
In the past few weeks four state police troopers have been injured and one killed while on duty. All five accidents took place between midnight and 2:30 a.m., and in four of these instances the drivers now face drunken driving charges. Police are still seeking a suspect in the fifth case. A report from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund shows the number of police officers killed in traffic accidents has risen 35% from this time last year.
Massachusetts hopes a saturation of officers will help to deter intoxicated persons from driving. Troopers have urged their superiors to increase enforcement during peak drinking and driving hours, especially Friday and Saturday nights along the free ways.
If a driver is caught with a BAC above the legal limit, serious consequences will follow:
- On the first offense Massachusetts drunk driving laws mandate a fine from $500 to $5,000 and/ or face up to two and a half years in prison after driving with a blood-alcohol-content of .08 or more. Not only will you face these hardships, but your license will be suspended for a full year.
- On your second offense the consequences are more sever. A second conviction comes with: guaranteed jail time of at least 60 days no more than two and a half years, fine of $6,000 – $10,000, suspended license for 2 years, and an interlock device installed in your car. If the first offense consequences didn’t deter you from drunk driving, the second offense punishment should.
Drinking and driving is a serious danger for anyone involved, officials are hopeful the additional measures will help to reduce the number of impaired drivers on the road.
Massachusetts 1000 Greatest Places… Road Trip Anyone?
Posted by Cassandra in Consumer Advocacy, Legislation on July 14th, 2010
Massachusetts legislature has evaluated more than 12,000 nominated locations across Massachusetts and released a list of “1,000 Great Places in Massachusetts”. The greatest places list was approved by legislators and signed by Deval Patrick last year in an effort to lure more tourists to the Bay State. For a fun weekend trip or less-expensive summer vacation, take a Massachusetts road trip – become a tourist yourself!
The list of great Massachusetts places includes the typical tourist spots, but it also mentions the lesser known wonders as well. Some of the obscure places mentioned on the list include: the Paul Bunyan statue in Bellingham, the Songline Emu Farm in Gill and the glacial potholes of Shelburne Falls. Use the 1,000 greatest places list as a map to explore the Commonwealth with a new set of eyes.
While hosting guests from out of state this list is key to showing them the great culture and beauty your Bay State has to offer. Guests may want to tour the more famous locations such as Plymouth Rock, Walden Pond, the Old North Church, Tanglewood and the Cape Cod National Seashore -all of which the list includes. Organized by city your guests can tour just a few surrounding towns and experience more of Massachusetts than the typical vacationer.
Even if you don’t have time for a weekend trip or vacation throw the list of 1,000 greatest places in your glove box for later on. If you finish a meeting early or find extra time to kill these wonderful locations can be a great escape from the daily grind. For the complete list of the Massahcusetts 1,000 greatest places click here.
Texting Behind the Wheel Bill: PASSED
Posted by Cassandra in Legislation on July 8th, 2010
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed legislation H4794 into law last week banning drivers from texting behind the wheel. The new law has made Massachusetts the 29th state to pass a law restricting texting behind the wheel. The passed legislation bans drivers from reading or writing an e-mail, texting and basically anything that doesn’t include talking on the phone while driving. Drivers over age 18 will still be permitted to take phone calls while behind the wheel.
Drivers under 18 years are prohibited from using a cell phone while behind the wheel. On a first offense the teenager can face a fine of $100 and a 60 day license suspension. If a suspension is given, the driver will have to complete a driver attitudinal course in order to reinstate their license. For repeat offenses charges can reach up to $500. These fines will not be considered a moving violation and is not expected to affect a driver’s surcharge.
“Texting while driving has become a serious threat to the safety of our roads and drivers… We have taken strong action to keep our roads safe by banning texting while driving and instituting needed measures to keep impaired drivers off the road. Protecting the safety of our residents is our most important task as elected officials and this bill will do just that.”
- House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo
The new law affects mature drivers as well. Those 75 years or older will need to renew their licenses in person and pass a vision text every five years to keep a current license. Under current laws these drivers have only needed to renew in person every 10 years. Further than the young and elderly, any driver who accrues three or more surchargeable incidents within a two-year period will be required to take a driver retraining and safety course or face a license suspension.
The new law is to take effect in October when officers may pull over any driver suspected of using a cell phone for a purpose other than making or receiving a phone call behind the wheel.
Progressive & Liberty Mutual Lawsuit Initiated
Posted by Cassandra in Competition on July 1st, 2010
A federal lawsuit has been filed by Progressive, the nation’s fourth largest auto insurer, against Liberty Mutual for a patent infringement on a vehicle monitoring system. Progressive claims Liberty’s OnBoard Adviser and Rewind programs are copyright infringements of Progressive’s MyRate program monitoring insured’s driving habits.
According to the lawsuit Progressive was issued a patent in 2000 for the MyRate program. This patent is being used as the grounds for lawsuit against Liberty’s Rewind and Onboard Adviser programs. The Rewind program waives surcharges for qualifying drivers who receive a speeding ticket or are involved in an accident. The Onboard Advisor program is more intense as it reports your fuel score, indicates driver performance as to correct risky driving habits, keeps a location lock on the vehicle and creates a driver trend analysis. These systems are utilized by Liberty Mutual to transmit data used to calculate the driver’s safety score.
According to an article from Business Insurance a Progressive spokeswoman stated:
“Our extensive research, development and investment in usage-based insurance dates back to the mid-1990s. We filed this suit to protect intellectual property rights we have spent more than 15 years investing and developing.”
The Liberty Mutual Spokesman Gleen Greenberg has relayed to the press as of now the company has no comment on the litigation.
Massachusetts To Ban Texting Behind the Wheel?
Posted by Cassandra in Legislation on June 30th, 2010
The Massachusetts House of Representatives voted 150-1 last week approving a bill that bans texting while driving for all motorists and imposes a new requirement on elderly drivers. Only a day after the Massachusetts House passed the text-banning legislation the Massachusetts Senate voted in agreement passing the measure as well. This piece of legislation will travel onward to Governor Deval Patrick who has also announced he supports the bill and will review the proposal when it reaches his desk.
If passed the legislation will ban texting sate-wide while driving and restrict those under 18 to use a cell phone while driving except in emergencies. Drivers under 18 years of age who are caught texting and driving under this new legislation will face a $100 find on the first offense, $250 on the second, and $500 on the third and all subsequent offenses. The fine and ticket for texting while driving will not be considered a moving violation and thus are not subject to an insurance surcharge.
The proposed bill will also require drivers turning 75 years or older to take their license in to an RMV office to take an eye exam for a renewal and every five years after their 75th birthday. Another key part in the legislation is a provision created to encourage doctors to alert the state when a patient may be dangerous on the roads.
If this bill makes it’s way to law Massachusetts will join 28 other states and the District of Colombia in banning texting behind the wheel.
New Legislation Affects Massachusetts Homeowners
Posted by Cassandra in Legislation on June 21st, 2010
Beginning July 1st 2010 Chapter 453 of the Acts of 2008 will become effective… if you understood what that meant you deserve a large pat on the back. For the rest of us, Chapter 453 is a piece of legislation not yet well known however will soon affect homeowners across Massachusetts in two ways.
First, homeowners must now make sure their oil tank, whether it is above or below ground, meets the new code requirements of Chapter 453. They should also be aware there is no grandfathering in for this law. Secondly if the old oil system does conform to the new requirements the insurance company must make coverage for loss due to an oil spill available to them.
The Chapter 453 of the Acts of 2008 states:
An owner of a residential property utilizing a heating oil tank for consumptive use on the premises with 1 or more fuel supply lines or return lines in direct contact with concrete, earth or other floor surfaces shall:
1. enclose any fuel supply line with a continuous non-metallic sleeve
2. Cause an oil safety valve to be installed at the tank end of any fuel supply line in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions; or
3. employ any other release prevention method approved by the board
A residential property defined for implementation of this law is a one to four unit dwelling used for living or sleeping.
Those who are exempt from the new law:
- When the oil burner is located above the oil storage tank and the entire oil supply line is connected to and above the top of the tank OR
- an oil safety valve or oil supply line with protective sleeve was installed on or after January 1, 1990 AND
- those changes are in compliance with the oil burning equipment regulations; a copy of the oil burner permit from the local fire department may be used to demonstrate compliance.
If you find your oil system is not up to par, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has written an article, Homeowner Oil Heating System Upgrade and Insurance Law, to help guide and educate those in need of an upgrade. Here is a helpful excerpt:
The typical cost of installing either an oil safety valve or oil supply line with a protective sleeve ranges from $150 – $350 (including labor, parts, and local permit fees). For those households that meet certain income criteria, financial assistance of up to $300 is available through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). For more information on financial assistance, see the Department of Housing and Community Development Web site at http://mass.gov/dhcd or call them at 1-800-632-8175.
After ensuring your oil safety system meets state regulations it’s time to take a look over your current homeowners insurance policy and determine whether or not you are covered for an oil leak or spill. If it does not, now is a good time to amend your policy to include this coverage. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has estimated the cleanup cost for a simple leak to cost as much as $15,000 and in cases where the leak impacts the groundwater or requires a more extensive cleanup costs could reach $250,000 or more. If you’re not sure whether or not your homeowners policy covers an oil leak, call your insurance agent and ask if he or she can explain what coverage you would have in case of an oil spill or leak.
If you’re unsatisfied with your current homeowners insurance policy or looking for a new one, give MassDrive a call. We would be happy to look into oil spill coverages for you and will quote you through different carriers, helping you to find the best price and save time. For a free quote call: 866-963-8231 or visit our MassDrive website at: www.MassDrive.com.
South Coast Rail Project Moves Forward
Posted by Cassandra in Massachusetts Department of Transportation on June 17th, 2010
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has finalized the legalities with CSX Transportation to gain the rail lines necessary to restore the commuter rail service between the South Coast region and Boston.
“Helping this region realize the promise of South Coast Rail has been our focus since day one… While others have stopped at talking about this project, we are making it happen. This agreement is another important example of our commitment to bringing this project one step closer to reality.”
- Gov. Deval Patrick Governor
Timothy Murray, the Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor, spoke further on the subject that the partnership with CSXTis a major milestone and will be critical to use this investment to leverage future job growth transportation services, and economic development is communities like Taunton, Fall River, and New Bedford. Murray however wasn’t the only one to further discuss the purchase as Senator John Kerry noted this will link the economies, businesses and homes of NewBedford and Fall River with Boston. Kerry continued since 2005 more than $30 million in federal funding was obtained from Congress because this development will be so beneficial to the economy and environment.
Further developments and a major stepping stone crossed by the South Coast Rail was a new request released June 10th for the reconstruction of three rail bridges in New Bedford. This past February $20 million was awarded to MassDOT by the Obama Administration in competitive TIGER funds to be used in replacing deteriorating railroad bridges. Construction on local bridges will begin in the fall.
For more information about the Patrick-Murray Administration visit: www.mass.gov/governor/agenda.
Massachusetts License Plate Lottery Open!
Posted by Cassandra in Massachusetts RMV on June 15th, 2010
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation begun accepting application for the 2010 Low Number License Plate Lottery yesterday. Those who enter their names into the drawing are hoping for 179 of the most sought after Massachusetts license plates including: R12, F17 and 55A.
“Every year the plate lottery generates thousands of applicants because all drivers have an equal shot at winning one of these coveted plates… Last year more than six thousand people participated and this year we expect even greater interest.”
- Registrar Rachel Kaprielian.
Applications for the license plate lottery are available in all RMV branches and online at: www.mass.gov/rmv/forms/registration.htm. To be accepted all applications must be postmarked no later than August 9th 2010. Postcard entries, as indicated by MassDOT, will not be accepted. Those who have won the lottery and do not register their vehicles by December 31, 2010 will forfeit their license plates and will be offered to a list of 25 alternative winners who will be chosen during the main drawing.
The lottery winners will be announced at a live drawing at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum Saturday August 28th at 11:00 am. Admission to the museum and the current “Curve Appeal” exhibit will be free to all applicants. For official drawing details and a complete list of the plates up for drawing visit: www.mass.gov/rmv. Lottery winners will be posted on the RMV website Monday, August 30th.
Scenic Summer Drives in the Bay State
Posted by Cassandra in Consumer Advocacy on June 14th, 2010
The Gloucester Shore - A beautiful stop along the Essex National Heritage Area Scenic Byway.
Boasting of summer’s arrival the trees are green, beaches now open, and the shorts and tee-shirts have been taken from storage. Whether you have an afternoon or an entire day, a summer drive through the beautiful Massachusetts roadways is the perfect way to see more of the Bay State and learn about its history. To get out of your usual grind without spending bundles on a vacation check out the following Massachusetts scenic routes:
North-western corner of Massachusetts are the Mohawk driving trails. Three popular routes within the Mohawk driving trails include: Mouth Greylock – approximately 26 miles, Mohawk Trail – approximately 55 miles, the combined Mt. Greylock/ North Berkshire route – approximately 33 miles, the combined North Bershire/ Mohawk Trail route – approximately 53 miles, and the Mohawk Trail/ Pioneer Valley route – approximately 55 miles. Along the Mohawk driving trails are many attractions including the bridge of flowers where over 500 varieties of annuals and perennials are planted and maintained throughout the summer season. For more information on the scenic routes through North-Western Massachusetts visit the Mohawk Trail website.
For a wonderful view and aversion the Mass Pike, Jacobs Ladder Trail is a fantastic drive and a National Scenic Byway. This drive winds through parts of Western Massachusetts like the Mohawk trails however takes a few twists and turns of its own. Enjoy original 19th-century architecture in Lee Center or along the way a restored railroad station from the 1840s, an Italiante Grange Hall, two mill villages, and churches that remain the tallest building in town. For additional information about this scenic drive visit the Jacobs Ladder Trail website.
For drivers residing closer to Southern Massachusetts the beautiful drive along the Cape Cod Route 6A may be a perfect trip. Cruising through some of America’s oldest villages the Cape Cod route travels through: Sandwich, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Dennis, and Brewster. If you’re into history, many of the homes along this route are listed under the National Register of Historical Places. If you’re not so interested in the Route 6A’s historical pit stops you may stop by Sandy Neck and Sandwich Town Beach, perfect for a leisurely swim or to soak in a few rays. For the more adventurous and outdoorsy Nickerson State Park is a perfect pit stop along this calming drive. For more information about the Cape Cod route 6A read up about it on the Travel Guide of America website.
Those living closer to the eastern coast will want to take a drive through the Essex National Heritage Area Scenic Byway. The Byway holds a plethora of historic seaports, colonial farms, village centers, and architecture. About 24 miles in length this would make a perfect evening drive and opportunity to learn more about local history. At one end of the Essex Byway is Gloucester, the large fishing community popularized in the movie “The Perfect Storm” and at the other the town of Newburyport, a historic trade and shipbuilding port. For more informaiton about this historically rich drive visit the Go-Massachusetts website.
Happy driving!
