To clear Massachusetts license suspensions and revocations, and to get your Massachusetts Driver’s License or right to drive reinstated, you must appear for a hearing at a full service branch of the Registry of Motor Vehicles, such as the Boston office located at 630 Washington Street in Chinatown.
One of the primary purposes of these hearings is to allow the hearings officer assigned to your case to research your driving and record in Massachusetts, other states, and in the National Driver Register. This research is done to uncover blocks suspensions, revocations, holds, or lack of eligibility for licensure. Your license will be reinstated only when the RMV hearings officer assigned to your case is satisfied that there are no problems or issues which would prevent you from getting your license back.
In some cases, there are DUI convictions which are not reflected in the Registry’s records. When this happens, the hearings officer will request additional information, so that the incident can be added to your Massachusetts Driver History. For example, a drunk driving conviction might appear on your criminal record but not your driving record. When this happens, the RMV will investigate the matter and add the “missing” DUI to your record. Only when the record is intact can the hearing go forward.
Sometimes a Registry Hearings Officer might see a “clue” indicating that you have an out of state DUI. This happens when your record reflects “NDR-Chem test refuse” or “NDR – Admin. Per Se.” These are indicators of an out of state DUI offense. When the hearings officer sees this on your record, he or she may request that you obtain a certified copy of the court docket showing the charges and disposition and/or a certified copy of your driving record from the other state. If these charges resulted in a conviction, a new suspension may be triggered or an existing suspension may be lengthened.
Other than hiring a RMV Lawyer to handle your Registry hearing, which is strongly recommended, the next best thing that you can do, prior to your reinstatement hearing, is to download a copy of your driving record and confirm that it is accurate and complete.