The “work letter” is an essential part of hardship license hearings for those seeking limited reinstatements for employment purposes. The Driver Control Unit of the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles requires that work letters be written no more than 30 days prior to the hardship license hearing. The letter must be on your employer’s official letterhead and signed in ink. The letter must explain your work hours and need to drive. Also, the letter should explain why public transportation will not meet your needs.
If you are self-employed, you must provide suitable proof of self-employment such as a business certificate, tax documents, and/or a current professional occupational license (e.g. plumber, electrician, real estate broker, construction supervisor, etc…) In addition to these documents, you must write your own letter to the RMV, wherein you explain your need to drive, work hours, and why public transportation will not suffice.
The Registry and Board of Appeal require these documents because you cannot get a hardship license for employment if you are unemployed. Individuals seeking hardship relief have previously made false claims of employment in order to try to get hardship licenses. These work letter requirements are designed to thwart those attempts and the failure to meet all of the above-listed requirements will result in the rejection of your letter and denial of hardship relief from the Registry. You may still be denied a hardship license, even of you have a proper work letter and having a lawyer represent you will likely increase your chances of getting a hardship lciense and reduce your chances of getting denied. Please contact me if you are interested in having me assit you with the preparation and presentation of your case.
The “employer letter” requirements listed above are the bare minimum requirements for hardship license work letters. In addition to this letter, I strongly recommend that those who are appearing before the Board of Appeal submit two character reference letters written by those who have personal knowledge of the candidate. The letters should attest to the candidate’s good citizenship, sobriety, contributions to his or her community, family situation, personal and professional accomplishments, and well as the candidate’s good character. These reference letters should explain why granting the candidate a hardship license will not endanger public safety.
If you are seeking a hardship license for educational or medical reasons, you must also provide acceptable third party documentation. Also, if you are self-employed, you must write your own work letter and supply acceptable proof of self-employment to get a work-related hardship license in Massachusetts.