Mass. RMV to charge $5 fee

BOSTON, Mass. (AP) - Critics are taking aim at a new $5 fee that the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles is charging customers who want to talk to a real person.

The fee that goes into affect Monday will be assessed to people who talk to an agency employee either in person or on the telephone to conduct certain transactions, including renewing driver's licenses and vehicle registrations.

The fee won't be charged for transactions completed online, by mail, or over the agency's automated phone system.

A Registry spokeswoman tells the Boston Herald the goal is to discourage people from going to branches.

A spokeswoman for the state Republican Party calls the fee a "back door tax."

Democratic State Sen. Steve Baddour says the state should not be "nickel and diming people" for mandated services.