For Immediate Release
February 26, 2002
Contact: Dan A. Gwadosky
207-626-8400

***MEDIA ADVISORY***
Secretary Gwadosky to Demonstrate Rapid Renewal for Town Council
Fairfield Residents Can Now Renew Vehicle Registrations over the Internet

Wednesday, February 27, 2002 at 7:00 p.m.
Fairfield Community Center
61 Water Street, Fairfield

Renewing your vehicle registration is an annual event that generally requires getting in line at the town office to pay the municipal excise tax, and then for some getting in line again at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to pay the registration fee. Have you ever wondered if there is an easier way?

Now, for the residents of Fairfield, there is--with Rapid Renewal, a new online service introduced by Secretary of State Dan A. Gwadosky and launched by Fairfield today. Instead of getting in line, you can get online to renew your vehicle registration. Just point and click, and in a few easy steps you can pay your municipal excise tax and registration fee from your home, office or any other convenient location with Internet access.

"Rapid Renewal is a groundbreaking Internet service that moves Maine closer to the concept of
e-government. For the first time Fairfield citizens will be able to conduct business online with municipal and state government in one seamless transaction," stated Secretary Gwadosky. "This is one of the first municipal and state government partnerships in the country to provide integrated e-commerce services online," Secretary Gwadosky continued. "We know this will open the door for other agencies to provide more convenient online services to Maine citizens."

Resident's of Fairfield no longer need to worry about making it into the town office during business hours. With Rapid Renewal, they can perform their registration renewals online 24 hours a day. Once they complete the process, they will be provided with a receipt and confirmation number, and they will receive the new registration certificate and stickers in the mail within a few days.

The Rapid Renewal program is sponsored by Secretary of State Dan A. Gwadosky and was developed cooperatively by his department, ten pilot municipalities, and InforME, the Information Resource of Maine. While municipal participation in the program is voluntary, Fairfield was eager to launch Rapid Renewal to provide its citizens with this efficient and convenient service.

Rapid Renewal may be accessed through www.sosonline.org, the Department of the Secretary of State's site for online services. Rapid Renewal is currently available in Arundel, Bangor, Brunswick, Cape Elizabeth, Chelsea, China, Corinna, Dover-Foxcroft, Fairfield, Falmouth, Gorham, Hermon, Holden, Jay, Lewiston, Norway, Phippsburg, Portland, Saco, South Portland, Standish, Vassalboro, Waterville, Wiscasset and Yarmouth.