The Boston Passport Agency
Tip O’Neill Federal Building
10 Causeway Street, Room 247
Boston, MA 02222
Phone: 877-487-2778
http://travel.state.gov/passport/about/agencies/agencies_904.html
This past week, I was so happy when I received a phone call from Pat, a very nice Customer Service Manager at the Boston Passport Agency. Karen, a very nice assistant from Congressman Barney Frank’s Taunton office contacted her about the problems I had at the Taunton Post Office when they wouldn’t accept my official MA ID Card as a Primary ID for my passport application. (See Taunton Post Office Review)
Pat apologized and told me that my official MA ID Card should definitely have been accepted as Primary ID for my passport application. She explained that the MA ID Card is now as valid as a driver’s license and has the same amount of time as a driver’s license and the same documents are presented at the RMV to obtain the MA ID Card.
Pat also called my mom and told us both that she will notify the Taunton Post Office and the Northeast Retail Manager, who is in charge of all the Northeast Region Postal facilities in ME, MA, VT, NH, RI and most of NY to make sure they are all aware that the official MA ID Card is an accepted form of Primary ID for the passport application.
Pat also explained that she can’t do anything about the accessibility problem, but my mom and I have asked Karen, Congressman Frank’s nice assistant to help with the accessibility problem at both the Taunton and Fall River Post Offices.
I would highly recommend that all disabled persons in Massachusetts who are unable to drive, get an official MA ID card from their local Registry of Motor Vehicle. You never know when an ID might be required. For more information on how and where to get the MA ID Card, click on Links ; then scroll down to Massachusetts RMV – Official MA ID Card.
I give Pat, Customer Service Manager of the Boston Passport Agency FIVE STARS for helping to look out for the rights of the disabled and for helping me with my passport application. I also give Karen, at Congressman Barney Frank’s office, Senator Marc Pacheco and his assistant, Charles and Representative Stephen Canessa FIVE STARS and a big Thank You for all of their help. It’s such a nice feeling to know that others really care about us who are disabled.
April 5th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Good Layout and design. I like your blog. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. .
Jason Rakowski
April 6th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Hi Jason, I’m happy to hear that you like our blog..we just want to help people understand how important it is that all places be fully accessible to all. Thanks! Kenny
May 6th, 2008 at 9:39 am
so you like Pat. That’s great but still what does this have to do with accessibility? Did you visit this place? Or are you rating a phone call? I don’t get this one at all? I think a mention under a place you visited would be nice but to be rating a phone call is a waste of time for people like me looking for accessibility issues.
Oscar
May 16th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Hi Kenny,
I’m 37 years old and cannot drive because I am permanently disabled. I have an official Massachusetts ID card that I obtained from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.
I have had many problems with places of business not accepting my ID card as valid proof of ID and Age.
Most recently:
(1) My fiance is having her parents come to dinner tomorrow night. I went into Bay State Liquor Mart in Pocasset to buy a bottle of wine for dinner. I was told that my official RMV ID is NOT valid proof of my ID and age.
(2) I was recently at a Celtic game at TD Bank North Garden in Boston. I wanted to buy a beer at the concession stand. They asked for my ID like they do for everyone; I was told that my official RMV ID is NOT valid proof of ID and age.
Have you ever had this problem? If so do you know if my official RMV ID is valid proof of my ID and age and where I could find this information??
Thanks,
Peter
May 16th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Hi Peter,
I know exactly how you feel for the same thing happened to me! I went to apply for a Passport at the Taunton Post Office in March of 2008. I was told that my official Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles ID was NOT valid! I was so upset. I felt degraded and humiliated!
I placed a complaint, via Congressman Barney Frank’s office, to the The Boston Passport Agency. Pat, from the Boston Passport Agency called me at my home to apologize. She explained that the Massachusetts ID Card is as VALID as a Massachusetts Driver’s License.
I have this information published on my Links tab on top of my site.
The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles clearly sate on their web site at http://www.mass.gov/rmv/license/index.htm
“For people who do not have a Massachusetts driver’s license, the RMV can issue one of two official identification cards – The Massachusetts ID and Massachusetts Liquor ID. While these two ID’s look similar to driver’s licenses, they do not extend any driving privileges. These two ID cards are official forms of identity, signature, and age that are accepted in the Commonwealth.”
I would suggest you print this information from the RMV site which states your ID is Valid and bring a copy anytime you want to purchase a beer or bottle of wine.
Best Wishes,
Kenny & co
May 20th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Hello Kenny!!
I would like to Thank you for your help in my dilemma with the Official Mass ID Card, but unfortunately there is nothing I can do about establishments not accepting my Mass ID Card. If you go to the RMV site and under search put in Massachusetts IDs and Liquor IDs and then click on Chapter 1 – http://www.mass.gov/rmv/dmanual/chapter1.pdf – and go to page 8. There it states that “Massachusetts establishments which serve alcohol may refuse to accept a Massachusetts ID card for proof of age and identity. They are covered under the Chapter 138,Section 34b)Law. It serves them legal protection if they were to serve to minors and they have reliability on a Mass Liquor ID Card, Mass Driver License or a valid U.S. Passport, Military ID card or a Non-U.S. Passport recognized by the United States. The Mass ID card is not a reliable source. Which all in all does not make sense to me and i feel very discriminated against, irate and feel that when going to the RMV should have been informed of this law. Again Thank you for your time and effort!! Keep up the great work!!
May 21st, 2009 at 8:52 am
Hi Peter,
WOW! Kenny & co was not aware of this Law and thought my MA RMV ID was as VALID of an ID as a MA Drivers Licence. I agree with you that this MA Law -Chapter 138,Section 34b- allows businesses to Discriminate Against Disabled.
We suggest ALL disabled citizens and advocates write our State Senator and State Representative and ask that our legislators amend this law.
You can locate the contact information for your State Senator and State Representative at http://www.mass.gov/legis/ .
Thanks for letting us know about this discriminating MA Law.
Kenny & co
May 21st, 2009 at 9:11 am
Why is it discriminatory towards disabled if it also applies to individuals that carry a MA ID card but are not disabled? I carried a MA ID for many years when I was in my early 20s and had some problems but I also was allowed to use it and present it to various establishments as proof of age etc.??
May 21st, 2009 at 10:21 am
Hi Scott,
The law at http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/138-34b.htm does provide some protection for an employee or establishment that serves alcohol to a minor if that minor presents certain forms of valid ID.
The Mass ID is NOT listed in this section while a MA Driver’s License, Liquor ID, Passport, etc. are listed. It seems discriminatory that the Driver’s License is included yet the Mass ID is not. Both are valid ID’s from RMV and both are equal proof of age. Why one but not the other?
The Director of Constituent Services for my State Senator and the Legislative Aide for my State Representative are going to look further into this once the state budget is approved because possibly the law was written before the Mass ID was offered.
May 21st, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Hi Scott,
This law may not be just discriminatory against disabled people but people who carry MA ID Cards. It does says that “Massachusetts establishments which serve alcohol may refuse to accept a “Massachusetts ID card” for proof of age and idenity” So far i’ve experienced 2 places that will NOT take my ID. So my problem is why should I have to go back to the RMV and obtain a MA Liquor ID Card, which I have also experienced with a friend, that places will NOT take his Liquor ID Card and have told him that he needs to have a Driver’s License to purchase Liquor. He does not drive and I do not drive, so how is that fair to those who have these cards? So I feel discriminated against that my ID is not as good as someone who has a Driver’s license, Military ID, A U.S. Passport and even a Non-U.S. Passport that is recognized by the United States. I don’t mean to sound a bit bitter about it but I am a 37 year old disabled man. Who can’t even purchase a beer for myself at the only liquor store that is within a close distance to my house that will not accept my ID. If no one is around I can’t go get myself a beer if I so choose. Now I can’t drive therefore I do not have a Driver’s License. So I believe that the law should be changed so that everyone that’s of age can purchase whatever they need in this case a beer.
Thanks,
Peter
May 22nd, 2009 at 9:59 am
I must be missing something here! In my opinion the law does not discriminate because it is applied even handedly. There are thousands of Commonwealth residents that are not disabled and also do not drive, they experience, at times the denial to purchase liquor the same as all others using a MA ID. I will venture to guess that the MA ID maybe altered more easily or there is a charge for one and not the other? I will call the registry and get thier take on the differences and how they can be used.
May 22nd, 2009 at 10:20 am
This info came directly from the RMV web site;
Photo-Image Licenses
In February of 1995, Massachusetts began issuing Photo Image Licenses. This digitized license has increased security for our customers by making it tamper-resistant. This form of licensing also makes it easier and quicker for the RMV to issue replacements and to add endorsements. As another means of protecting yourself and your privacy, Massachusetts uses a state assigned number on all license and ID cards. This randomly assigned number is a nine-digit number starting with the letter “S” and followed by eight numerals. You must provide the RMV with a valid social security number. Your photo image license is valid for up to five (5) years and is issued to expire on your birthday. This technology is also used for the Mass and Liquor Identification Cards.
Photo-image ID’s
For people who do not have a Massachusetts driver’s license, the RMV can issue one of two official identification cards – The Massachusetts ID and Massachusetts Liquor ID. While these two ID’s look similar to driver’s licenses, they do not extend any driving privileges. These two ID cards are official forms of identity, signature, and age that are accepted in the Commonwealth END OF RMV INFO…..
It seems to me that proper training for establishments to understand what forms of ID can & cannot be accepted is the issue here. The ABCC (Alcohol Beveredge Control Commission) does provide training which maybe where the MA ID is falling through the cracks????
May 22nd, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Hi Scott,
I don’t mean to sound like a jerk but I don’t think what you’re talking about and what I’m talking about are the samething. I see what you are writing but go to this website http://www.mass.gov/rmv/dmanual/chapter1.pdf and this is what is stated down on page 8 under “Massachusetts ID”
Massachusetts Liquor ID
Massachusetts establishments which serve alcohol may refuse to accept a Massachusetts
ID card for proof of age and identity. State law (M.G.L. Chapter 138, Section 34B) provides
alcohol servers with some legal protection if it is found that alcohol was served to a minor in
reliance on a valid Massachusetts Liquor ID card (or a Massachusetts driver’s license or a
valid U.S. Passport or a valid non-U.S. Passport issued by a country recognized by the
U.S., or a U.S. issued Military ID card) but not in reliance on a Massachusetts ID card.
So my argument is why are “PEOPLE” (21 years of age and older) not informed of this when purchasing an ID at the RMV. I only used myself as a reference because it takes me alot to get to the store and being 37 yrs of age I assumed my MA ID was valid because I was not informed of this at the RMV. Now could you understand of why I was upset? I just recently recieved an email back from a customer service associate of the RMV telling me that “they are currently looking for ways to desseminate more specific information to assist our citizens in making the choices most suitable for their own purposes.” – Richard Stone of RMV. It also seems that the MA LIQUOR ID is more accepted than the MA ID. But even sometimes the MA Liquor ID is not acceptable and only a Drivers License is. So how is that fair to “ANYONE” that can’t drive and is 21 yrs or older? I appreciate and understand what you are saying and now I hope we both agree that something needs to be done about the law of which ID they can accept. So people of age can purchase what they need.
Thanks and Best Regards,
Peter
May 22nd, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Hi Peter,
That is why I said in an earlier comment that I must be missing something. I’l read your postings again and think about it.
Have a good weekend,
Scott