Torrisi Votes to Override Veto on Vehicle Registration Bill

State Representative David Torrisi (D-North Andover) joined his colleagues this week in the House and Senate in overriding the Governor’s veto of a bill that would require vehicle registration applicants to show proof of legal residency.
The language included in the FY 2013 budget would prohibit X-registrations, which have allowed car owners to register their vehicles without a license since 1970.

Applicants looking to register a motor vehicle must now provide a driver’s license or some other “proof of legal residence”. In addition, the language that has been adopted would increase fines for knowingly employing unlicensed drivers or allowing an unlicensed driver to drive, as well as raises the fine for a first offense from $500 to $1,000.  Finally, the bill makes forging a license its own crime, with a maximum 10-year prison sentence for making 10 or more fake IDs.

“My colleagues and I have been able to successfully maintain this important language in the FY 2013 budget,” said Representative David Torrisi. “This is very much an issue of public safety.  Vehicles registered by unlicensed drivers have become a widespread problem and the addition of this vehicle registration requirement will hopefully deter those who do not belong on the road from being there.”