I just got a Speeding Ticket, what do I do now?
You can either fight it or pay it. You must request your hearing within 20 days. You request your hearing by mailing in the ticket to the address on the back.
How do I pay or appeal a Massachusetts speeding ticket?
If you are cited for speeding by a police officer, you only have 20 days to either pay the fine or to appeal the fine in a hearing. If you request a hearing, you must pay a $25 filing fee to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). If you do not take action within 20 days, you will also receive a late fee.
Failure to pay the speeding fine and the late fee will result in your license being suspended.
What if I ignore my Massachusetts Speeding Ticket?
If you ignore your Massachusetts speeding ticket you will lose your right to fight the ticket and the Massachusetts RMV will suspend your license until you pay the ticket. If you live out of state you may not be able to renew your license until you pay the ticket and other fines and penalties.
Where is my Massachusetts Speeding Appeal Held?
In Massachusetts, the speeding appeal is conducted in the court where the speeding ticket was given. You can find this by looking at the court code (found on the top of the ticket) and usually, the Officer puts the court on the bottom of the ticket. Find out here.
Can I bring a lawyer to my Massachusetts Speeding Ticket Appeal?
Yes. You are not required to bring a lawyer and a lawyer will not be appointed to you but you can bring your own lawyer.
Can I reschedule my hearing date?
Whether you can reschedule your Massachusetts speeding ticket appeal is up to the individual clerk magistrate. If you need to reschedule your hearing you should call the court as soon as possible and ask if they can reschedule it. Most courts will not grant a second rescheduling.
Do I need to be present at the hearing?
Yes. But in certain circumstances, you can allow your lawyer to appear in your place.
Can I plea this to a non-moving infraction or traffic school?
No! Massachusetts does not have a traffic school alternative or a way to plea it down to a non-moving violation. The only way to avoid insurance increases and penalties on your license is to be found Not Responsible.
Can the Magistrate change the ticket to a warning?
No. Only the police officer can decide to give you a warning. The clerk can only find you responsible or not responsible.
Will my ticket be dismissed if the police officer does not show up?
The police officer who gave you your Massachusetts speeding ticket does NOT need to appear at the Magistrate’s or clerk’s hearing. In Massachusetts, the ticket itself if the prima facie evidence of the speeding. Usually, a police prosecutor will summarize from the ticket.
If you appeal your ticket to a judge the officer will have to appear or you will be found not responsible.
How much will I have to pay for a speeding ticket?
A speeding ticket fine is $100 for any speed up to 10 miles above the posted speed limit. The fine increases by $10 for each additional mile after the first 10. For example, if you are pulled over for driving 16 miles above the speed limit, your fine will be $160. If you were pulled over for speeding in a posted work zone, the amount of the fine as calculated above will be doubled.
What happens to my Massachusetts license if I get more than one speeding ticket?
Drivers who get three speeding tickets within a one-year period will have their license suspended for 30 days upon paying for or being found guilty of the third citation.
Is a Massachusetts Speeding Ticket a Surchargeable Event?
Speeding is a minor traffic violation that constitutes a “surchargeable event” in Massachusetts. The accumulation of three surchargeable events within a two-year period, or five surchargeable events within a three-year period, will result in mandatory enrollment in a driver retraining school.
How will my car insurance rate be affected when I pay for a speeding ticket?
Surchargeable events accumulate surchargeable points on a driver’s license. The more surchargeable points that you accumulate in a given period of time, the more your car insurance rates will increase.
Will my insurance increase if I get one speeding ticket in Massachusetts?
Yes. Your first speeding ticket may not incur any surchargeable points yet you will still see an increase in your insurance. However, you will lose your Excellent Driver Plus Discount and see your premiums rise and stay higher for six years!
Where can I find out about the Safe Driver Insurance Plan?
Massachusetts Division of Insurance Website Click Here
Patrick Donovan has appeared in over fifty Massachusetts courts. Attorney Donovan has saved his client’s thousands of dollars in speeding ticket fines and increased insurance premiums. Attorney Donovan has presented the first seminar on Traffic Court to fellow lawyers at the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education. Attorney Donovan offers a free phone consultation to people who have gotten a Massachusetts speeding ticket. Call Today.
If a Junior Operator is found responsible of certain automobile law violations, the Registry will impose enhanced penalties which are not applicable to adult drivers. For example, if a junior operator is found responsible for speeding, in violation of G.L c. 90 § 17 or G.L. c. 90 § 18, the RMV will automatically suspend his or her license and right to operate a motor vehicle for ninety (90) days for a first offense.
In addition to the 90 day loss of license, the Registry will mandate completion of the 8 hour Alive at 25 National Safety Council Course as well as the State Courts Against Road Rage (SCARR) program. The Registry imposes a $500.00 reinstatement fee for JOL Speeding Suspensions and the Junior Operator must re-take and pass both the written Learner’s Permit Test and the Road test.
A second offense Junior Operator Speeding conviction will trigger a 1-year license suspension in addition to the re-testing requirements as well as having to complete the two National Safety Council Courses.
JOL Speeding Violations will remain on the driver’s record even when he or she turns 18 year of age and is no longer a Junior Operator. These violations can be used to increase the driver’s automobile insurance premiums and to impose other suspensions such as those for 7 surchargeable events and 4-year Habitual Traffic Offender Revocations.
The Registry has erroneously stated that “no hardship license are authorized.” I have successfully obtained hardship licenses and, sometimes, full license reinstatements for my clients. I have also obtained license reinstatements without my client having to re-take the written and road tests. This testing requirement can add considerable time to the suspension because the Registry will not allow the customer to take the permit test or schedule the road test until the 90 days have been served and all other requirements have been completed.
I urge you to contact me if you have received a suspension notice regarding a JOL Speeding Violation. I may be able to get you back on the road with a hardship license or early reinstatement of your full-time license.