The Registry of Motor Vehicles imposes automatic 4 year license revocations for those who are determined to be habitual traffic offenders in accordance with G.L. c. 90 § 22F. Under this Massachusetts Law, if your driving record reflects convictions of DUI, driving to endanger, license fraud, leaving the scene of an accident after causing personal injury or property damage, driving after suspension or revocation, driving without a license, or using a motor vehicle in the commission of a felony, the Registry will revoke your license for a period of 4 years, if you have 3 convictions of these “major offenses,” within any 5 year period. The RMV may count out-of-state convictions towards habitual traffic offender revocations.
Also, any 12 moving violations along with any of the above-listed “major violations,” or any combination thereof, will automatically result in a 4 year habitual traffic offender revocation. Consequently, depending on the contents of your Massachusetts driving record, a single seemingly minor automobile law infraction can trigger a 4 year loss of license.
Prior to being considered for any type of hardship license, if the Registry has declared you a habitual traffic offender, you must take and complete the National Safety Council 8 hour Attitudinal Dynamics of Driving (ADD) program, if you have not taken it within 3 years of your hardship license request. Neither the Registry of Motor Vehicles nor the Appeals Board will grant you reinstatement of your right to operate unless and until you have completed this required driver re-training program and proof of completion appears on your Massachusetts Driving Record.
The Mass. RMV will require you to serve 1 year of this 4 year revocation prior to considering you for a hardship license. However, in some instances, the Board of Appeal may consider granting a hardship license prior to the 1 year waiting period. Having multiple HTO revocations and/or evidence of recent operation while revoked will make getting a hardship license difficult at both RMV and the Board of Appeal. Contact a lawyer for more information regarding this issue
As is the case with other types of suspensions, in order to qualify for a hardship license as a habitual traffic offender, you will be required to show that public transportation is not available to you. You must also show that you have a documented need to drive for employment, education, or medical reasons.
Related Articles
- Out of Massachusetts State Violations
- Do I Need a Hardship License Lawyer?
- Drug Related License Suspension
- RMV Hearing Procedures
- What ‘Hardship’ Required to Get a License
- CDL Suspensions
- License Fraud Suspensions
- Immediate Threat Suspensions
- 7 Surchargeable Events Suspensions
- Leaving the Scene of an Accident
- The Work Letter Requirement
- JOL Suspensions