Registry of Motor Vehicles
The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) has the power to suspend your license for a variety of reasons. Some suspensions are mandatory and others are discretionary. Three, five, or seven surchargeable offenses, occurring within certain periods of time, will lead to a mandatory suspension.
If you have received 3 speeding tickets within one year, the RMV must suspend your license for 30 days. For any combination of 5 surchargeable offenses (tickets or accidents) within 3 years, the RMV requires you to complete a remedial driver’s course. For any combination of 7 surchargeable events, the RMV must suspend your license for 60 days and requires completion of a remedial driver’s course.
“Discretionary Suspensions” allows the RMV to suspend your license because of something that they believe to be the case. Discretionary suspensions are Immediate Threat Suspensions. The RMV may suspend your right to drive indefinitely if they believe that your continued operation may endanger the safety of the public.
The RMV may also suspend your right to drive because of Improper Operation. The RMV may suspend your right to drive for 30 days because of an improper operation of a motor vehicle, or indefinitely where a medical or mental condition exists.
If the Massachusetts RMV has or is planning to suspend your license, an experienced Massachusetts attorney can be of help. The RMV employs hearings officers to review your case. It is the job of the hearings officer to decide whether or not the RMV has the right to suspend your license. If there is a discretionary suspension, you have the right to appeal to a hearings officer.
After a hearing with a RMV hearings officer, if you are not satisfied with the decision, you can appeal to the Board of Appeals. The Board of Appeals is a three person board, independent of the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. This appeal requires a non-refundable filing fee. You have a right to have an attorney represent you with both the RMV hearings officer and before the Board of Appeals.
