-
If you enjoy the forum please consider supporting it by signing up for a NES Membership The benefits pay for the membership many times over.
PSA - Don't throw out your old license
- Thread starter wheelgun
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2005
- Messages
- 47,531
- Likes
- 33,562
You need papers the govt considers to be in order. Read ID and passport both count, but stop identifying you once expired.
I have a vague memory that if you move out of state, and do all the proper notifications (certified letters, etc.), they expire your license on the spot rather than canceling or revoking it. So that if you should ever happen into the Commonwealth with firearms and ammunition again, the same provisions about "possession/carrying on an expired license" apply.
Is that true?
Of course, the right thing to do is to get a nonresident LTC, especially if you intend to visit MA with firearms and ammo. But if the "expired license" thing is true, at least it saves you from being an unwitting felon if you cross the border by accident.
Nonresident LTC is its own pain because it's $100, requires a trip to Chelsea, and is only good for a year. :-/ There's a bill pending to change that so it's valid for 6 years, but who knows if that'll pass.
Is that true?
Of course, the right thing to do is to get a nonresident LTC, especially if you intend to visit MA with firearms and ammo. But if the "expired license" thing is true, at least it saves you from being an unwitting felon if you cross the border by accident.
Nonresident LTC is its own pain because it's $100, requires a trip to Chelsea, and is only good for a year. :-/ There's a bill pending to change that so it's valid for 6 years, but who knows if that'll pass.
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2005
- Messages
- 47,531
- Likes
- 33,562
1. The FRB tends to use the term "expiring" when a license is invalidated for non-punitive reasons.
2. The expired license thing is true. There was a case where the commonwealth argued 15 years (+/-) was too long and the intent was only to help with short term failures to renew. The court held the law meant what is said.
3. Do not expect police officers in the field to understand this nuance of MGL. You can pay your attorney $$ to explain it and argue the point or pay him/her $ to negotiate the plea bargain/CWOF. (the system does not always withdraw the attack the face of actual innocence as it dings the win/loss scorecard). If the gun is really nice, you can pay $$$ for repeated motions seeking an order for the police to return it.
Last edited:
Mesatchornug
NES Member
Passport is RealID-compliant.
The passport card is a nice, convenient-to-carry alternative to a Real ID compliant driver license, if you only fly domestic. I currently have a US passport in booklet format; I'll probably get both the booklet and the card when my passport comes up for renewal in a few years.
If your interested you can apply for the passport card at anytime. They run independent of each other with different issue and expiration dates. Each are good for 10 years from date of issue.
Mesatchornug
NES Member
This too. I'm a hold out re: realid license. I just used my passport card to drive to Canada. It's pretty handy
Two weeks would be reasonable. PD requests via MIRCS, FRB prints a new one and sends it to PD, PD mails it to you (some may call you to pick it up).
I was always amused by this. I was in a 6-month SW training fellowship after DEC and needed to prove US Citizenship for the program. Showed the state employee my Passport but it would expire part way thru that 6-month period. I was told that when it expired, I'd have to prove again that I was still a US Citizen with birth certificate or renewed Passport. Duh!! I never knew that it was that easy for a US-born (to US-born Parents) Citizen to lose their citizenship!
Hopefully he doesn't mark it as sold. I hope he just keeps bumping whatever OP purchased.Wait. Hold on a sec.
OP, you're saying Cooler made an actual sale?
Zero! Per MGL, lost/stolen LTCs/FIDs are to be replaced for free. Boston PD of course was charging $100 (IIRC that was the amount) but I think that they got called on it and stopped that illegal behavior.
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2009
- Messages
- 41,857
- Likes
- 79,509
Thanks Len! I think a quick call to the issuing PD and the OP will be in good standing again for CCW, possession and purchases.
Your help and knowledge is always top-notch and timely. Thanks for being a member of Our Community.
~Matt
Your help and knowledge is always top-notch and timely. Thanks for being a member of Our Community.
~Matt
I was just lazy when my license came up for renewal earlier this year. I could have gotten a Real ID license if I'd assembled a bunch of documentation and gone to the RMV with it...or I could renew by mail. I don't fly often enough for it to be worth the bother, and I have a passport anyway. There's a possibility that I might end up doing a bunch of flying for $CURRENT_JOB, though.
Blackmore
NES Member
I just did the same. It also avoids the rare chance of losing your real passport which you DO need for international air travel.
I renewed my last LTC early and my licensing officer actually informed me of this potential problem. Told me to keep the old one until the new one is valid in case I try to make a purchase. The guy knew his shit!
