Registry of Motor Vechicles

The other day, I went to the RMV to get a Mass license plate for my ol' good Honda Odyssey. You know, they require you to get one - or else.
Ok, whatever, can do that.

First, I tried to find out if I actually had to get the plate. I mean, maybe some states don't require it, you never know... One might expect that such information is freely available on the RMV's website. But one would be wrong. Next thing, one would probably try to call them and ask. But one would have a hard time finding a phone number. Bummer.

Ok, never mind, I'll go and ask in person. A few words into the purpose for my visit, the very busy lady at the front door cut me off abruptly and handed me a ticket with number. At the very bottom, there was a small statement: "Est. wait time: 87 min." Rrrrrright...

A few days later, I finally got around to going in and actually getting the plates. Now try to guess how much is the fee for that.
I'll give you a couple of hints. In Washington, it would cost around $60. In California - around $50.

In Massachusetts? In the very same Massachusetts that one would expect to have lower government fees because is has all those taxes?
Ha! I wish! Turns out, it costs $125. Of which $50 for registration and $75 for title transfer.

Well... I'm certainly not in a position to judge how the cost gets determined... But at least, I believe, I'm entitled to know where exactly does my money go, am I not? So that's exactly what I asked them: where do those $75 go exactly?

Here's the enlightened dialog that I've had with the nice lady at the counter, and then with her supervisor, another nice lady:

- Where does the $75 payment go?
- It goes to pay for the title transfer.
- Yes, I understand. But where do those money go exactly?
- They go to pay for the title transfer.
- Yes, yes. But after that? What does it pay for exactly?
- For the title transfer.
- Mmmm... I mean, does it pay somebody's salary? Or something else?
- No, it doesn't pay anybody's salary.
- But what does it pay for then?
- For the title transfer.
- But... Mmmm... - I was desperately trying to find the right words. - What... mmm... costs... are involved in transfering the title?

At this point, I was seriously afraid that the answer will be "A $75 fee".
But, fortunately, the answer followed:

- I don't know about that, I just work here.
- Ok. Who knows? Whom do I ask?
- I don't know...
- But... But...
- I don't know, try to call the state house, they're in charge of all the laws.
- Ok, what's the number?
- I don't know.

Ok... Gues I'll be calling the State House next thing...