Saugus AAA branch offers some registry services at Broadway location

SAUGUS – Saugus residents looking for a break from the long lines at the Registry of Motor Vehicles now have a new option: AAA.Rachel Kaprielian, the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, along with Mark Shaw, President and CEO of AAA Southern New England, formerly launched the sixth MassDOT/AAA partnership with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Saugus AAA branch at 214 Broadway.Kaprielian said the partnership will make registration and license renewals more convenient for drivers.?There?s no (extra) cost to the registry and no cost to the driver,” said Kaprielian. “You pay the same fee here as you would at a (RMV) branch. It?s just more options. It?s closer to where you work, no lines ? and it?s open on Saturdays.”The joint effort started as a pilot program in Worcester and Framingham three years ago after Kaprielian said she heard about a similar program in Rhode Island. Kaprielian said AAA now does around 40 percent of all drivers licenses renewals in the Ocean State.?As soon as I heard that, I thought about trying it on our own,” said Kaprielian. “We did a pilot program ? and when those were successful we decided to expand it.There are already MassDot/AAA partnerships in Framingham, Springfield, Worcester, Dennis and Plymouth.Mary Maguire, Director of Public and Legislative Affairs for AAA, said two more locations will be launching next week, one in Boston and one in West Springfield.?It?s really part of an ongoing partnership that we feel increases the level of convenience and service to members,” said Maguire. “It shortens wait times because we?re able to capture some of the overflow. The response has been good. Framingham for example there was a tremendous demand. Worcester the numbers are very good. The idea is to provide consumers with options.”Only AAA members can renew their license at the partnership branches but, Kaprielian said, about half of the 4.6 million licensed drivers in Massachusetts are members.One of those members, Saugus selectman and state Rep. Donald Wong, R-Saugus, attended the ribbon-cutting Monday.?I think it?s good,” said Wong, who?s been a member of AAA since 1977. “It?ll cut down on lines and will be more convenient for working moms and dads.”The staff at the Saugus AAA branch were still being trained on RMV procedures on Monday, and if the program picks up on Route 1, Shaw said the new partnership could lead to a few more jobs.?Clearly we?ll make whatever investment in staffing that?s necessary,” said Shaw. “We think we have enough staff. This is a very well-staffed office. However, if the registrar activity demands additional staffing, we?ll certainly make that commitment.”The Saugus AAA office will offer license and registration renewals Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is the only location that is open on Saturdays (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.).Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected]. You can follow him on Twitter @MattTempesta.