Legislature Overrides Patrick's Veto of Registration ID Bill

Editor's Note: The following press release was issued jointly by state Sen. Richard T. Moore (D-Uxbridge) and state Rep. John Fernandes (D-Milford).

Senator Richard T. Moore and Representative John V. Fernandes recently joined their colleagues in the House and Senate to successfully override the governor’s veto of vehicle registration reforms and stricter false identity fines.

by a vote of 134-19 in the House followed by a vote of 24-10 in the Senate.

The existing law allows so-called “x-registrations” wherein an unlicensed operator or person in the state illegally is able to purchase and register a car without any proof of residency. This loophole has allowed untrained and unlicensed operators, those here both legally and illegally to operate on our roads. There have been several accidents resulting in deaths that involve unlicensed operators in registered automobiles. The amendment adopted by the legislature seeks to close that loophole in auto registrations.

The governor did accept several other provisions adopted as a part of the legislature’s budget that knowingly providing an auto to an unlicensed operator and forging or distributing false identification cards.

with bi-partisan co-sponsorship in both the House and Senate that seeks to address a wide range of secondary impacts arising out of the failed federal policy on immigration. The public safety provisions incorporated into House and Senate budget amendments have their origins in that legislation.

“Finally, the motoring public can breathe a little easier knowing that those registering motor vehicles in Massachusetts are more likely to be legal residents of the Commonwealth,” said Moore. “The long-sought change in the law, together with other provisions that Rep. Fernandes and I fought for this session, should improve the safety of our communities and reduce the number of unlicensed drivers on the road. Sadly, it took the loss of folks like and to bring this problem to the forefront, but passage of these reforms will give better tools to our hard-working public safety personnel in their efforts to curb the carnage on our highways.”

In commenting on the successful House and Senate override of the governor’s veto and passage of the stronger penalties, Fernandes stated that: “It is gratifying to secure real reform of our public safety laws that offer new tools and added protections to help address the now epidemic problem of unlicensed operation in our community and across Massachusetts. It is now equally rewarding that my colleagues in the House and Senate have voted overwhelmingly to override the governor’s veto”