In out of state suspension cases, the first step to restoring your Massachusetts Driver’s License is to reinstate your driving privileges in the state where the violation occurred. Your right to operate must be restored in the other state prior to attempting to get your license back here in Massachusetts because it is impossible to get a hardship, work, or limited license in Massachusetts while your right to drive is suspended elsewhere. You must be in good standing in the National Driver Register prior to having your Mass. license restored, either on a part-time or full time basis.
Many drivers who have lost their right to drive in Massachusetts due to an out of state DUI or other violation call my office looking for a way to have MassDOT override an indefinite NDR revocation. This is generally not possible. Massachusetts is required to give full faith and credit to out of state suspensions and revocations, just as other states are required to respect license actions taken by the Mass. RMV. Therefore, you must have the state where the problem originated remove the NDR block prior to trying to get your license back in your home state. The Registry will not grant hardship driving permits under any circumstances unless the applicant is eligible in the NDR and there is no way around this.
Once your rights are restored in the state where the conviction entered or the disqualification occurred, that does not mean that your troubles are over. Once the Mass. Registry discovers an out of state, or even an out of country, conviction for a motor vehicle law violation, the RMV will apply that to your driving record and once that happens, a new license suspension will automatically be generated. When this happens, I may be able to help you reduce or eliminate the loss of license, depending on the particular situation. Please contact me to see how my office can help you get your license restored.
