Recently, in an attempt to save money and cut down on government waste, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles...

Umm, let me check that. Yep, "Registry," "saving money," "cutting waste." Those words are appearing in a single sentence in a completely irony-free way.

Anyway, the registry decided to stop mailing drivers notices when their licenses and registrations would expire.

According to Registrar of Motor Vehicles Rachel Kaprielian (who, just as a completely objective journalistic observational aside here, does not look anything like the registrars I remember at the RMV, all of whom looked exactly like the late "Tip" O'Neill - and not on a good day) the move saved some $800,000.

In spite of the savings, the public complained. People were showing up with expired licenses at airport security, causing delays. And a radio talk show host who was nabbed for driving with an invalid license managed to beat the rap by saying the registry had never told him his license had been yanked. (Yes, I know, I had the same question. Radio talk show hosts are allowed to drive?)

Now the registry is trying to address those concerns by sending out e-mail notices, phone or text messages (what, no Twitter tweets?) informing drivers that it's time to renew.

The notices will be sponsored by advertisers, so neither the commonwealth nor drivers will have to bear the cost.

All people need to do, officials say, is sign up at least 45 days before the expiration of their license or state-issued ID. They will receive an electronic message at least 30 days before the expiration date that will tell them whether they should renew online or in person or whether their license can't be renewed at all because of outstanding parking tickets or excise taxes.

At the same time, a Massachusetts-based insurance company is offering essentially the same service to drivers. Although, in what can only be described as a failure in their marketing department, they are not charging for it, like those companies that offer to sell you lists of foreclosed properties, which are available as public records for the cost of a photocopy.

So, thanks to the miracle of modern technology, you as a driver in Massachusetts will be spared the embarrassment and inconvenience of not knowing when your license expires.

Or you could take the license out of your wallet and look at it. Because the expiration date is printed there. On the front. In big letters.

But how are you going to remember some random date like that, you ask?

The expiration date is actually the same as your birthday.

Which, just in case, is also printed on the license. Right next to the expiration date.

TOM REILLY is a Sun Chronicle news editor who wonders what that big number on his inspection sticker means. Oh well, probably not important. He can be reached at 508-236-0332 or at treilly@thesunchronicle.com. Read his blog at thesunchronicle.com/reilly.