In March of 2020, under the notion of reducing possible spread of Covid-19, the Rhode Island DMV closed its branch office in Warren. It hasn’t re-opened since.

During last week’s Town Council meeting, it was pointed out that the office remaining closed is actually a violation of state law.

Title 31, Chapter 2, Section 6 of the Rhode Island General Laws states that the administrator of the RI Department of Motor Vehicles “shall maintain branch offices in the towns of Warren and Westerly and keep the Warren office open for business at least three (3) days per week…”

The Town Council got the ball rolling last week to try and bring the state back into compliance with its own regulations.

“I don’t know if anybody has realized but since the pandemic, going to the DMV has changed. And the other thing that has changed is there is no longer a DMV in Warren, and I think that’s a huge inconvenience to the East Bay, not just to Warren itself,” said Councilman Joe DePasquale. “I had the convenience of driving to Westerly, because that was the only time I was able to get an appointment. It was inconvenient. I think that we should hold the DMV accountable and bring them into compliance with the law.”

DMV asks for free rent from Warren
DePasquale said that there is a vacancy within the Ocean State Job Lot shopping center that could work nicely, as there is ample existing parking, and inquired as to whether or not the state had been in contact with the town about reopening the office.

“They thought that it sounded like a great location but they would like free rent,” answered Town Manager Kate Michaud. “They said that they would love to locate somewhere in Warren but they don’t have the budget for rent, so they would like to be introduced to a landlord that may provide free space.”

“I would love that too,” joked Council President John Hanley.

Action taken to alert legislators, DMV
Town Solicitor Anthony DeSisto said that the burden was on the state to come into compliance with the law, and that the council should authorize him to send a legal notice to the DMV reminding them of their obligation to operate an office in Warren.

DeSisto then recommended to send a resolution to the Rhode Island Senate and House alerting them of the situation as well. The council unanimously approved sending those notices.

“With those two actions, you should get a response from the DMV, and hopefully we can get something open here in the Town of Warren as the law requires,” DeSisto said.

Rep. Jason Knight, who sits on the House Oversight Committee and chairs the Oversight Subcommittee on Administrative Efficiency, said on Tuesday that he was aware the DMV had operated many satellite offices that closed since the onset of Covid. He agreed that the office in Warren should be reopened as a means of making essential DMV operations more accessible for everyone, particularly those who might have difficulty traveling all the way to Cranston or Westerly.

“The bottom line is, I think what we need to do is get [RI DMV Director] Bud Craddock in a room with Kate Michaud and relevant members of the town council and state reps and say, ‘What’s going on, what do we have to do to get the office in Warren running again?’ And make it happen,” Knight said. “I’m more than willing to participate in those conversations going forward.”