RMV Announces Enhancements to Commercial, School Pupil Permit Exams

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BOSTON — The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) announced enhancements to its Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) General Knowledge Exam and its School Pupil Transport (7D) Learner's Permit Exam. The updates are designed to strengthen public awareness of human trafficking and expand language access for applicants across Massachusetts. 

"These enhancements reflect our continued commitment to both public safety and equitable access for Massachusetts' residents," said Massachusetts Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie. "By equipping commercial drivers with tools to identify human trafficking and expanding language access for school pupil transport applicants, we are ensuring that these drivers are better equipped to be both safe and responsible when on the road."  

New Human Trafficking Awareness Content for Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) Applicants

The RMV has introduced a new public service announcement (PSA) at the start of the Commercial Learner's Permit General Knowledge Exam. The PSA is designed to help commercial drivers recognize and report signs of human trafficking, which is often hidden, affects and impacts individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and communities.  

Developed in partnership with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), the PSA provides guidance on:  

  • Indicators of potential trafficking 
  • Questions to ask when encountering suspicious situations 
  • How to safely report concerns 

This content is now available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese to ensure broad accessibility for commercial permit applicants. 

Expanded Language Access for School Pupil Transport (7D) Applicants

The RMV has also expanded the School Pupil Transport (7D) Learner's Permit Exam into Portuguese and Haitian Creole, which was previously only accessible in English and Spanish. These new translations will help ensure that more applicants responsible for transporting school-aged children can complete the exam in their primary language. 

In addition, the RMV is translating the 7D Driver's Manual into Portuguese and Haitian Creole. Once complete, these versions will be posted on the RMV website. 

For more information, visit Mass.Gov/RMV. 

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

15 People Displaced in Pittsfield Home Fires

Staff Reports

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fifteen people were displaced after 2-alarm home fires this weekend on Springside Avenue and Elaine Drive. 

On Friday evening, the Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 209 Springside Ave., which took a four-hour battle to extinguish and resulted in a partial roof collapse. The next day, on Saturday evening, crews knocked down a fire at 121 Elaine Drive in about an hour. 

The garage and part of the single-family home on Elaine Drive were gutted to the frame, along with a vehicle parked in the driveway. On Springside Avenue, the top level and porch of the multifamily were burned through.  

A GoFundMe has been started for the family of the Elaine Drive home, which includes several young children.  The fundraiser, with a $5,500 goal, explains they lost their home and all of their belongings. (iBerkshires.com does not confirm or endorse fundraisers; they are provided as information only.)

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries, and both incidents are under investigation.  One dog was rescued on Springside Avenue. 

On Oct. 10, around 6:15 p.m., PFD responded to the Springside Avenue home for a reported structure fire and saw a 2 1/2-story wood frame multifamily with a heavy blaze showing from the second-floor front porch, extending out. 

The building suffered a partial roof collapse, which prolonged extinguishment. The fire was brought under control after about four hours.

“An aggressive offensive attack was mounted by first arriving crews stretching hose lines into the building as well as primary searches that proved negative. Ladders were placed around the structure to provide access as well as escape if needed. An off-duty Fire Captain had also been on scene early in the incident to help evacuate the structure and rescue a dog,” PFD wrote in a press release. 

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