BBQ Season is here!

With BBQ season upon us, it’s important to follow some basic safety precautions when cooking outdoors.

- Make sure your grill is in a well-ventilated area. Building an open flame and choking out the oxygen around it could easily lead to a house fire.

- Avoid using anything other than natural wood or charcoal to fuel your BBQ, and never use lighter fluid or gasoline in place of either of these fuels.

- When grilling your food, it’s best to only turn the grill to medium-high heat. High heat can easily lead to burnt meat, and low heat can lead to the meat drying out and falling off the bone.

- Be sure that no one is near your BBQ while you are cooking! If conditions outside are concerning, make sure that all of your BBQ equipment is tied down. This includes anything on the sides of your BBQ as well as storage containers if you have any.

- Use a meat thermometer if you’re unsure of whether or not your food is done!

- Try to keep an eye on the fire. If it starts to die down, add more natural wood or charcoal. If the fire is raging out of control and winds up engulfing your BBQ, use a hose or bucket of water to put it out.

- Never leave your BBQ unattended until it has completely cooled off and all embers are absent.

Enjoy your summer and know we are always ready to help with any question or need you may have.

The team at Barrows Insurance Agency.

Your RV Home Needs Love Too – Protect Your Investment

RVs offer a great option for vacationers to maintain social distance while traveling and play double duty as a transportation and accommodation vehicle.  But RVs can be expensive and protecting your investment with the right insurance is critical.  When insuring an RV, pay close attention to liability coverage.  Generally, only an RV insurance policy will cover liability for a motorhome. You may want to consider an umbrella policy if you have a large nest egg to protect. 

When it comes to accidents, actual cash value is the standard, which will pay up to what the RV was worth at the time of the accident.  You may also consider additional coverage that applies for a hotel stay if the RV needs repairs and you are unable to be in it. At Nationwide, a standard policy runs about $100 per year for a pop-up camper and more than $1500 per year for a luxury motorhome.

The good news is that the contents inside an RV are generally protected under a Homeowners or Renters insurance policy at lower limits 😊. Of course, the cost of insurance varies.  You need an agent that is familiar with RV insurance and can customize your RV coverage with the best options for you and your family.

Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) Implementing Further Extensions to Expiring Licenses, Permits, Motor Vehicle Inspection Stickers, and Passenger Plate Registrations

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) announced on 04/15/2020, it will be implementing further extensions to the renewal timelines for expiring motor vehicle inspection stickers, passenger plate registrations, professional credentials, and licenses and permits, including Commercial Driver’s Licenses and Commercial Driver’s License Permits (CDLs / CLPs).

While the RMV has previously announced 60-day extensions for most credentials, passenger plate registrations and inspection stickers expired or expiring in March and April, today’s action will apply the same 60-day extension to those expiring in May. Those with March 2020 expiration’s impacted by the first 60-day extension, will have an additional 60-day extension applied.

These additional extensions under Governor Charlie Baker’s declaration of a State of Emergency the week of March 9th, replicate the ongoing measures the RMV is taking to reduce the need for customers to physically visit an RMV Service Center or one of its business partners’ facilities, allowing for ‘social-distancing’ by decreasing non-essential travel and customer volume.

The new changes to expiration extensions are now in effect as follows:

• All non-commercial driver’s licenses, ID cards, and Learner’s Permits that expire in May 2020, will now expire in July 2020 and do not need to be renewed at this time. This extension will also apply to those whose expired March 2020 credential was already extended by 60 days. The specific expiration date typically coincides with an individual’s birth date. Customers holding a license marked “Limited-Term” that has expired or will expire between March 1 and May 31, 2020 should visit Mass.gov/RMV for more information and to check the validity of their credential.

• All Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL) and Commercial Driver’s License Permits (CLP) that expire in May 2020, will now expire in July 2020 and do not need to be renewed at this time. This extension will also apply to those whose expired March 2020 credential was already extended by 60 days. The specific expiration date typically coincides with an individual’s birth date. The RMV also recently introduced an online renewal option for CDL holders if they are self-certified in the Non-Excepted Interstate (NI) category for medical certification.

• In accordance with updated guidance from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), all CDL Medical Certificates expiring between March 1 and April 30, 2020, will also now not expire until June 30, 2020 and do not need to be renewed at this time. Extensions to CDL Medical Certificates are intended to prevent license downgrades and elective medical visits, as well as alleviate demand on medical providers, during the State of Emergency.

• The annual motor vehicle safety and emissions inspection stickers that expire on May 31, 2020 will now expire on July 31, 2020. This extension will also apply to those whose expired March 2020 inspection sticker was already extended by 60 days. Annual motor vehicle inspection stickers typically expire on the last date of the month. While automotive repair and maintenance facilities continue to remain open as “essential services” and inspection stations may operate at their discretion, these annual inspections do not need to occur at this time.  

• All passenger plate registrations that will expire in May 2020, will now expire in July 2020. This extension will also apply to those whose expired March 2020 passenger plate registration was already extended by 60 days. Registration renewals can continue to be performed online at Mass.Gov/RMV during this time. Customers seeking to do so in-person will not be able to make an appointment and should delay their visit to a Service Center at this time.

• Professional credentials for School Bus Certificates, School Pupil Transport Licenses (7D), Inspector Licenses, Inspection Station Licenses, Driving Instructor Licenses and Driving School Licenses that expire in May 2020, will also now be extended for 90 days after the State of Emergency is lifted and do not need to be renewed at this time.

For the most up-to-date information on RMV extensions and other service and COVID-19 response measures, visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/rmv-covid-19-information.