Motor Vehicle Laws, Ticket Appeals, Driver's License Suspensions
and Revocations
APPEAL THE TICKET and call Sullivan and Sweeney at 617-328-6900 for a free consultation. TIME MATTERS!
Massachusetts has enhanced the penalties for speeding and for Junior operators receiving any motor vehicle citation. YOUR CHILD NOW FACES A LICENSE SUSPENSION FOR A SPEEDING TICKET. Every parent and junior operator should be aware of the license loss they face under the states drunk driving laws and also for other moving violations including speeding and operating with other passengers in the motor vehicle. EVERY operator has a right to appeal any citation they receive and they should appeal and hire a lawyer familiar with these appeals.
DON’T ARGUE WITH THE POLICE OFFICER. DON’T RELY ON INTERNET
QUICK FIXES. IN MASSACHUSETTS CLERK MAGISTRATES OF EACH COURT HEAR TICKET
APPEALS AND THE RIGHT ATTORNEY CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE FOR YOU AND YOUR
FAMILY!
The tables below should assist you and every teen should be aware of
these penalties BEFORE they get pulled over by the police. Knowledge
and prevention beats hiring a lawyer every day.
Driving with other passengers in first six months :
• 1st offense: $35 fine; plus 60 day license suspension
• 2nd offense: $35 - $75 fine; plus 180 day suspension; plus completion
of registry program that encourages attitudinal changes
• 3rd offense: $75 - $150 fine; plus 1 year suspension; plus completion
of registry program that encourages attitudinal changes
Junior Operator Driving between midnight and 5 am :
• 1st offense: $100 - $1,000 fine; plus 60 day license suspension
• 2nd offense: $100 - $1,000 fine; plus 180 day license suspension;
plus completion of registry program that encourages attitudinal changes
• 3rd offense: $100 - $1,000 fine; plus 1 year license suspension;
plus completion of registry program that encourages attitudinal changes
Permit Holder driving without an adult or between midnight and 5 am
:
• 1st offense: $100 - $1,000 fine; plus 60 day learner’s
permit suspension
• 2nd offense: $100 - $1,000 fine; plus 180 day learner’s
permit suspension; plus completion of registry program that encourages
attitudinal changes
• 3rd offense: $100 - $1,000 fine; plus 1 year learner’s
permit suspension; plus completion of registry program that encourages
attitudinal changes
Junior Operator drag racing:
• 1st offense: $250; plus 1 year license suspension; plus $500
to reinstate license; plus completion of the state courts against road
rage program
• 2nd offense: $500; plus 3 years license suspension; plus $1000
to reinstate; plus completion of the state courts against road rage
program
Junior Operator speeding (in addition to fines):
• 1st offense: 90 day license suspension; plus $500 to reinstate
license; plus completion of registry program that encourages attitudinal
changes; plus completion of the state courts against road rage program;
plus $50 reinstatement surcharge; plus must retake and successfully
complete driving test
• 2nd offense: 1 year suspension; plus $500 to reinstate; plus
completion of registry program that encourages attitudinal changes;
plus completion of the state courts against road rage program; plus
$50 reinstatement surcharge; plus must retake and successfully complete
driving test
Permit Holder speeding (in addition to fines):
• 1st offense: 90 day license suspension; plus $500 to reinstate
license; plus completion of registry program that encourages attitudinal
changes; plus completion of the state courts against road rage program;
plus $50 reinstatement surcharge; plus must retake and successfully
complete driving test
• 2nd offense: 1 year suspension; plus $500 to reinstate; plus
completion of registry program that encourages attitudinal changes;
plus completion of the state courts against road rage program; plus
$50 reinstatement surcharge; plus must retake and successfully complete
driving test
Junior Operator operating recklessly or negligently (in addition to
fines):
• 1st offense: 180 day license suspension
• 2nd offense: 1 year license suspension, if it occurs within
3 year period of first offense.
SUSPENSIONS AND REVOCATIONS
When your license has been suspended or revoked by the registry of motor vehicles you must apply for a hearing to have it reinstated. A court order in some instances is NOT binding upon the registry of motor vehicles. For example a Court may treat a drunk driving offense as a first offense and order the standard first offense license suspension whereas the registry may see that, in fact you have more than one drunk driving offense on your record and they WILL treat the suspension as a second or third, etc. despite the court's finding. That is why you need an experienced attorney to explain the outcome of any case.
The Registry will also suspend your license if you are found guilty of most drug offenses, whether a car was involved or not! Once again an experienced attorney can assist you.
Reinstating Your License
To reinstate your license or your right to operate, you may need to appear for a hearing at an RMV Hearing site. To be prepared for your hearing, please choose one of the following to view the registry's criteria needed when appearing before a hearing's officer for your particular type of suspension: OUI Hardship Criteria, First Offense (24D) OUI Hardship Criteria, (94C) Drug Offense Hardship Criteria, HTO Hardship Criteria.
If you had a hearing at the Board of Appeals and received a letter of decision rescinding or modifying the Registrar's actions, you may appear at any Registry branch for reinstatement. Please bring the letter of decision with you.
Fees:
If your license was suspended or revoked, a reinstatement fee will be due when your license is reinstated. This fee ranges from $100 - $1,200, depending on the offense. This reinstatement fee is in addition to any other fee or charge for which you may be responsible.
Junior Operator Reinstatement Fees:
For reinstatement of a learner's permit or junior operator license, a Driver Attitudinal Retraining Course and/or the State Courts Against Road Rage (SCARR) program may be required.
Payment Defaults
Non-Criminal Citation
If you defaulted on a non-criminal civil citation and have been suspended as a result, you must pay the fine to the court and bring the green court release forms to any Registry branch. There is a $10.00 filing fee to remove each default. In addition, a $100.00 reinstatement fee is required if your license or right to operate was suspended.
Non-Criminal Citation after January 1, 1992:
If you received a non-criminal citation after January 1, 1992, you may pay the citation, late fee and/or reinstatement fee by calling the registry or paying at one of their full service offices, or
Mail your fees to (Do Not Mail Cash):
Attn: Citation Payment
Registry of Motor Vehicles
PO Box 55890
Boston, MA 02205-5890
Criminal Citations
If you defaulted on a criminal civil citation and have been suspended as a result, you must pay the fine to the court and bring the green court release forms to any Full service Registry branch.
Out-of-State Suspensions and Revocations
If your Massachusetts license is revoked due to a suspension or revocation in another state, you must be reinstated in that state before you can resolve any revocation in Massachusetts. Once you have resolved the suspension or revocation in the other state, you may resolve your revocation in Massachusetts by bringing either a reinstatement letter or a current driving record from the state of suspension to any Registry branch
Please note, your reinstatement letter or driving record may not be more than 30 days old.
If you have any questions or need more information about your Massachusetts suspension or revocation, you may call the Suspensions Department at (617) 351-7200.
Call Sullivan and Sweeney at 617-328-6900 for a free consultation before you go to court or immediately upon receiving any notice from the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
Attached is a brochure outlining suspensions and revocations.