Massachusetts traffic tickets.
Massachusetts has no licence points at all. The cost lands on your insurance instead, and contesting a ticket costs money up front.
How it works in Massachusetts.
A clerk magistrate of the District Court or the Boston Municipal Court hears the citation, and you appeal to a judge of the same court. The Registry of Motor Vehicles does not hold these hearings.
Massachusetts uses no licence point system. It uses counts of surchargeable events for licence action, and SDIP insurance points for premiums.
Three speeding convictions in 12 months
Thirty day suspension, with no hardship licence
Three surchargeable events in 2 years
Mandatory Driver Retraining
Seven surchargeable events in 3 years
Sixty days, again with no hardship licence
Three major offences, or any twelve major or minor, in 5 years
Habitual Traffic Offender, revoked for four years
The no fix law, and the fact that fighting costs money first.
M.G.L. c. 90C section 2 is the no fix law: the officer must hand you the citation on the spot, and "a failure to give a copy of the citation to the violator at the time and place of the violation shall constitute a defence in any court proceeding for such violation". A ticket posted to you later is attackable in a way it would not be in any neighbouring state.
The second thing is the money. Fighting costs $25 for the magistrate hearing and $50 more to appeal to a judge, refunded only if you are found not responsible on every count. You pay before you start.
Common violations and what they carry.
Speeding
M.G.L. c.90 s.17
Not less than $50, plus $10 for each mile per hour above ten over, plus a $50 head injury surcharge.
Failure to stop or red light
M.G.L. c.89 s.9
$100 first, $150 after.
Marked lanes
M.G.L. c.89 s.4A
$100.
Minor violation
SDIP
Two insurance points on a six year policy experience period.
Minor at fault accident
SDIP
Three insurance points.
Major at fault accident
SDIP
Four insurance points.
Major violation
SDIP
Five insurance points.
Massachusetts assesses no licence points. The values marked SDIP are insurance points, on a six year policy experience period.
What actually helps here.
The no fix law
The officer must hand you the citation at the time and place of the violation. A failure to do that is a defence in any court proceeding for that violation.
A ticket that arrived in the post later is the one place where Massachusetts is more favourable than its neighbours.
Very little else, honestly
There is no voluntary point reduction course, and for a civil motor vehicle infraction the magistrate's decision is binary, responsible or not responsible, with no other disposition permitted.
The National Safety Council Driver Retraining Program is required after three surchargeable events in two years, not elective, and the state does not say it removes anything.
Twenty days from the date of the citation
A magistrate hearing costs $25 to request, and an appeal to a judge costs $50 more, refunded only if you are found not responsible on every count.
Partially, and the rest is not verified
Trial Court Rule VII says counsel may participate. Whether counsel can appear instead of you at a magistrate hearing is not stated anywhere and is not verified.
Read this first.
How it works
You send us the ticket. That is your entire job. Four steps and a flat fee in writing.
What we fight
Speeding, red light, cell phone, reckless driving, suspended licence and CDL tickets.
Send us the ticket
Free review, no obligation, and a straight answer about whether fighting it is worth your money.
Send us the Massachusetts ticket.
Free review, no obligation, and a straight answer about whether fighting it is worth your money. Representation in Massachusetts is provided by an attorney licensed in Massachusetts.