MA Junior Operator License Restrictions

Any motor vehicle operator or motorcyclist between the ages of 16 1/2 and 18 is considered a Junior Operator. The Junior Operator Law has several requirements and restrictions that significantly affect the operation of a motor vehicle by a person who has a Junior Operator’s License (JOL). The basic purpose of the law is to provide new drivers supervised opportunities in which to develop good driving skills, while keeping those drivers free of the possible distractions caused by friends under age 18 who are present while the drivers are behind the wheel.

Following, from the MA Registry of Motor Vehicles Driver’s Manual, we offer Massachusetts Junior Operator License Restrictions:

  • You may not operate a motor vehicle within the first six months after receiving your JOL while any person under age 18 is in the vehicle (other than you or an immediate family member), unless you are accompanied by a person who is at least 21 years old, has at least one year of driving experience, holds a valid driver’s license form Massachusetts or another state and is occupying a seat beside you.

General Rule: The passenger restriction that applies to the Junior Operator (Under age 18) is lifted once the Junior Operator completes the six-month period or you reach age 18, whichever occurs first.

The six-month passenger restriction period will stop running, temporarily, during any suspension. When your JOL is reinstated, you will still have to complete the remainder of the six-month restriction period that existed at the beginning of the suspension period, unless you have already turned 18.

  • As the holder of a Junior Operator License (JOL), you may not operate a motor vehicle between 12:30 a.m and 5:00 a.m. unless you are accompanied by one of your parents or your legal guardian. If you are found operating a motor vehicle in violation of this restriction, you may be charged with operating a motor vehicle without being licensed. This is a criminal violation. 
  • If you violate the passenger restiction or the night restriction, you will be subject to a license suspension of 60 dyas for a first offense, 180 days for a second offense, and one year for subsequent offenses. For a second or subsequent offense, you will also be required to complete a Driver Attitudinal Retraining course. The law requires the Registrar to impose this suspension in addition to any other penalty, fine, suspension, revocation, or requirement that may be imposed in connection with a violation committed at the time you were violating the passenger or night restriction. 
  • You may not operate a motor vehicle that requires a commercial driver’s license (CDL). 
  • You will be suspended for one year if you are udner 18 when you have committed certain driving offenses and alcolhol or drugs were involved (180 days if age 18 to 21), in addition to any penalty assessed by a court or other law. 
  • You will be ineligible for a full license until you have completed the period of suspension imposed while operating with a JOL and you reach age 18. 
  • You will face additional suspension periods of one year for a first drag racing offense and three years for a subsequent offense, you will be suspended for one year.

Mud Season

It’s that awkward time of year in New England known as: Mud Season.

Mud season occurs when the ground freezes and, as snow melts in the spring, the ground thaws and roads, paths and hiking trails become muddy. 

As the snow melts the frozen lower layers of ground prevents water from percolating into the soil, so the surface layers become saturated with water and turn to mud.

It can be a dangerous time to drive or ride your bike as roads, paths, and hiking trails develop ruts, pot holes, and giant puddles.

Clothing becomes etched with drops of muddy spray.

Although a messy time of year, it is a quiet interlude in many New England towns between the tourist seasons of summer, fall, and winter.

It is also a reminder that warmer days are ahead!

March is Dr. Seuss’ Birthday Month

One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish …

This morning my kids went off to school humming Dr. Seuss songs.

Today is their annual Read Across America Day.

They start off the day with student assembly and, throughout the day, readers from across the community will come into the classrooms and read to the kids.

What a great day to be a kid!

One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish …

This morning my kids went off to school humming Dr. Seuss songs.

Today is their annual Read Across America Day.

They start off the day with student assembly and, throughout the day, readers from across the community will come into the classrooms and read to the kids.

What a great day to be a kid!

MA Costly Homeowner Insurance Mistakes:

A recent article by Forbes identifies 4 common, costly homeowner insurance mistakes to avoid:

Mistake No. 1: Underinsuring your house

Mistake No. 2: Assuming you have flood insurance

Mistake No. 3: Thinking you have one, flat deductible

Mistake No. 4: Believing you’re covered for mold or sewage backup

Call, click, e-mail or stop by to review your home insurance coverage.

Forbes: Costly homeowners insurance mistakes to avoid

A recent article by Forbes identifies 4 common, costly homeowner insurance mistakes to avoid:

Mistake No. 1: Underinsuring your house

Mistake No. 2: Assuming you have flood insurance

Mistake No. 3: Thinking you have one, flat deductible

Mistake No. 4: Believing you’re covered for mold or sewage backup

Call, click, e-mail or stop by to review your home insurance coverage.

Forbes: Costly homeowners insurance mistakes to avoid

The Lemon Law

 

According to the official website of Massachusetts, Mass.gov, their most requested topic of information on the internet is: The Massachusetts Lemon Law.
 
The Lemon Law allows MA consumers to void a vehicle sale if the vehicle fails to pass inspection within 7 days from the date of sale AND if the costs of repairs of emissions or safety related defects exceed 10% of the purchase price.
 
For additional details & forms, please visit:
 
The Massachusetts Lemon Law

MA Vehicle Excise Tax

In an attempt to de-mystify the annual, pesky Massachusetts excise tax we offer the following excise tax breakdown:

Excise bills are prepared by the RMV according to information on the registration. They are sent to city/town assessors who commit them to local tax collectors for distribution.

The excise tax rate is $25 per $1,000 of valuation (NADA) subject to the following percentage formula:

In the model year: 90%; second year: 60%; third year: 40%; fourth year: 25%; fifth year & beyond: 10%.

If you have turned in your plates on the vehicle you are getting excise taxed on, or if you have transferred plates and got rid of the vehicle, you may be eligible for abatement . Abatement instructions are located on your excise tax bill.

Blizzard Safety Tips

The Blizzard of ’13 is bearing down on us, Johnson & Rohan Insurance offers some safety tips:

  • Check your supplies.
  • Make sure you have a snow shovel and ice melt to keep walkways clear and safe.
  • Check that you have sufficient heating fuel for your home and fuel for your generator, if you have one.
  • If you will be using a fireplace or wood-burning stove, you should have a good supply of dry, seasoned wood.
  • Have warm clothing and blankets on hand and stock non-perishable food items and necessary medications to last you and your family several days.
  • Get ready for a power outage. Turn your heat up now and close off any rooms that are not in use.
  • Check pipe insulation and allow water to run at a trickle to prevent pipes from freezing.
  • Charge your battery-powered electronic and communications devices.
  • Get out your flashlights, batteries, first aid kit and other emergency supplies.
  • Don’t drive or go out unless absolutely necessary.
  • Test all of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure they work properly.
  • Do not let candles burn unattended, and keep them away from combustibles.
  • Check on your elderly or disabled neighbors, friends and families.
  • Enjoy your family! Sometimes storms render the best family time memories.

Johnson & Rohan Insurance hopes everyone has a warm and safe Blizzard of ’13.

Claim reporting is available 24 hours per day/ 7 days per week. If you want to report a claim during off hours, have your policy number ready and call:

Premier/ Travelers:     1-877-425-2466

Safety Insurance:    1-866-906-5016

Vermont Mutual:      1-800-435-0397

MPIUA:      1-800-392-6108

You can also report online:

Auto Claim Commercial Claim
Home Claim Other Claim

MA Homeowner Insurance 101 – Coverage Basics

Homeowner Insurance is asset protection designed to bring your home and possessions back to the same condition prior to loss. Lenders require proof of home insurance, also known as Hazard Insurance of Fire Insurance, in the form of an insurance binder. Often they require a “paid in full” receipt and that the home is insured for 100% of estimated Replacement Cost.

Johnson & Rohan Insurance will help you determine the Replacement Cost of your home. Replacement Cost represents the amount it would cost to rebuild your home if you were to suffer a total loss. Not to be confused with market value, Replacement Cost is pure construction cost. Replacement Cost is determined by such things as: age, condition, square footage, updates, building quality and town multipliers.

Massachusetts Home Insurance Coverage Review

Once Replacement Cost is estimated, your MA home insurance agent is ready to start quoting. The standard MA home policy is a package consisting of:

Coverage A, Dwelling – The amount of coverage assigned to your dwelling should reflect the amount it would cost to completely repair or rebuild your home should it suffer a covered loss.

Coverage B, Other Structures – Typically 10% of Coverage A, Other Structures Coverage is for other structures (mailbox, shed, dog house, swimming pool, garage etc.) on your property detached from your dwelling.

Coverage C, Personal Property – Typically 50 – 70% of Coverage A, Personal Property Coverage provides coverage for your personal possessions such as furniture, clothing and appliances are covered. Certain types of possessions, such as jewelry, fine arts, antiques & collectibles, are excluded or have limited coverage.

Coverage D, Loss of Use – Typically 20% of Coverage A, Loss of Use Coverage pays for housing and other living expenses (like meals and laundry) if you suffer a loss that makes your home uninhabitable.

Coverage E, Personal Liability – Personal Liability Coverage provides on & off premise lawsuit protection and will provide coverage for bodily injury or property damage for which you are legally responsible.

Coverage F, Medical Payments – This coverage is available to others (not household residents) and will pay medical expenses up to, traditionally, $1,000.

Covered Perils – A homeowner insurance policy will provide protection from: fire or lightning, windstorm or hail, explosion, aircraft, vehicles, riot or civil commotion, smoke, theft, vandalism/malicious mischief, glass breakage, volcanic eruption, falling objects, weight of ice, snow or sleet, freezing of plumbing, accidental plumbing discharge, rupture of steam or hot water heating system, air conditioning systems, or water heaters, damage from artificially generated electricity.

Exclusions – A homeowners policy excludes coverage from: flood, or water that backs up through sewers, loss to building by earthquake, aftershocks and mud slides, loss by enforcement law or ordinance regulating construction, repair or demolition, or zoning, loss due to power interruption when the interruption takes place off the residence property, loss due to neglect of the insured to save and preserve property following a loss, war and nuclear perils, intentional loss.

Deductibles – Homeowner policy include a deductible. The deductible is the amount the consumer is responsible for before the insurance coverage applies. Typical deductibles are $500, $1,000, and $2,500. The higher the deductible: the lower the annual premium.

Dreaded Ice Dams

Nobody likes them and they’re not a lot of fun, but they keep coming and coming.

The Dreaded Ice Dams!

Fortunately, they are preventable!

Ice dams are caused by the build up of ice and snow on your roof. Melting and re-freezing contributes to more snow and ice building up.

Watch for ice dams near gutter downspouts.

Keep gutters free of leaves and debris so melting snow and ice can flow freely.

Ice dams can cause water to build up and seep into your house destroying walls, floors and personal property.

Slip & Slide At-Fault Accident? Appeal!

Have you been found “at-fault” in an auto accident?

Have you received the MA surcharge notice?

If so, this means the insurance company found you more than 50% at-fault and paid out more than $500 in damages.

Less than $2,000 in damages results in a 3 point (minor accident) surcharge, more than $2,000 results in a 4 point (major accident) surcharge.

If you believe you were not more than 50% at-fault in the accident, then we recommend you appeal the surcharge.

Unlike insurance companies, the Board of Appeal takes into account contributing factors, such as: road condition (icy, wet, snow-covered), visibility, other vehicle erratic driving, etc.

The Board of Appeal tells us it is presently taking about 9 months before consumers receive the hearing date. The cost to appeal is a non-refundable $50.

Once the hearing date is received you can: appear in person, submit a written statement, or select someone to appear on your behalf.

Appeal hearings are scheduled in: Boston, Brockton, Peabody, Plymouth, Somerville, Springfield, Waltham, or Worcester.

Call us or e-mail us to discuss.