For Immediate Release
January 6, 2003
Contact: Dan A. Gwadosky
207-626-8400

Winthrop Residents Can Now Renew Vehicle Registrations over the Internet

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 Winthrop, there is--with Rapid Renewal, a new online service introduced by Secretary of State Dan A. Gwadosky and launched by Winthrop 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 Winthrop 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 Winthrop 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, Winthrop 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 and on the Town of Winthrop web site at www.winthropmaine.org. Rapid Renewal is currently available in Arundel, Bangor, Bowdoinham, Brewer, Brunswick, Cape Elizabeth, Caswell, Chelsea, China, Corinna, Dover-Foxcroft, Fairfield, Falmouth, Farmington, Fort Kent, Gorham, Hermon, Holden, Jay, Lewiston, Limestone, Madison, Norway, North Yarmouth, Palermo, Patten, Phippsburg, Portland, Richmond, Saco, Sangerville, South Portland, Standish, Vassalboro, Waterville, Wells, Westbrook, Winthrop, Wiscasset and Yarmouth.