Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to correct the statement that AAA Northeast was still engaged in negotiations when in fact talks have broken off.
Despite a state Department of Motor Vehicles report Tuesday that its deal for AAA Northeast to renew licenses of nonmembers in parts of the state is in jeopardy, the motoring club insists it wants to work with the state, but talks have broken off.
DMV Commissioner Michael Bzdyra said Tuesday he is looking for ways to cope in 2017 with the curtailing of license renewals in New Haven, Litchfield and Fairfield counties for non-members of AAA Northeast, because talks with the organization have stalled.
But AAA Northeast released a statement saying it “remains committed to working with state officials to extend the DMV program in AAA offices in 2017 and well-beyond. … Working with DMV staff, AAA officials are hopeful that discussions with the DMV will continue.”
Later Wednesday, Frances B. Mayko, public affairs specialist for AAA Northeast, said: “We’re willing to go back to the table. We want to make this program work.”
In mid-October, AAA Northeast said it would stop offering license renewals to non-members immediately. It backtracked somewhat after Gov. Dannel P. Malloy called the move “unacceptable,” agreeing to offer services to non-members through year’s end, when its current contract with the state expires.
“We hope this AAA franchise will re-consider our proposals, which we feel were fair and workable,” Bzdyra said. “In light of this development, we will begin exploring other avenues to maintain access to services for the people of Connecticut.”
AAA Northeast currently provides DMV licensing and ID card renewal services to the entire general public, but has sought to offer them only to its paying members beginning in January in Litchfield, New Haven and Fairfield counties. The franchise has offered those services since 2001.
The remainder of Connecticut is served by AAA Club Alliance, with local headquarters in West Hartford. Karen Christiana, general manager of AAA Club Alliance, said the franchise will continue to provide services to all state residents at its eight offices around the state (Avon, Cromwell, Enfield, Manchester, Old Saybrook, Plainville, Waterford and West Hartford).
