Suspended License

Driving in Massachusetts is a privilege authorized by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. But the RMV can also take away your driving privileges, either temporarily (a suspension), or permanently (a revocation). A suspension or revocation is about the worst thing that can happen in terms of a punishment for motor vehicle violations, and it's easier to get one than you might think.

So think of this section as a guidebook for how to avoid a suspension or revocation and what to do if you end up getting your license suspended or revoked anyway. Below, you'll find a list of how and when RMV suspensions are issued, what they cost you, how to appeal a suspension, and how to get your license back once the suspension is over.

Automatic License Suspensions

The Massachusetts RMV will automatically suspend your driver's license in the following cases:

• Three speeding violations in one year (30 days, $100 reinstatement fee).

• Five surchargeable events in three years (Complete driver retraining in 90 days or indefinite suspension, $100 reinstatement fee).

• Seven surchargeable events in three years (60 days and $100 reinstatement fee).

• Habitual traffic offender (four years, $500 reinstatement fee).

• Out-of-state suspension or revocation (revoked until suspension is lifted in that state, $100 reinstatement fee).

Suspensions for Criminal Offenses

If you are convicted of a major motor vehicle criminal offense, plan on losing your license for more than a year in many cases. And be prepared to pay a large reinstatement fee if and when you ever get your license back:

• Stealing a motor vehicle: one to three years, $500 reinstatement fee.

• Leaving the scene of an accident with injuries: one to two years, $500 reinstatement fee.

• Leaving the scene of an accident with property damage: 60 days to one year, $500 reinstatement fee.

• Driving to endanger: 60 days to one year, $500 reinstatement fee.

• Motor vehicle homicide: 15 years to life, $500 reinstatement fee.

• Vehicular manslaughter: 15 years to life, $500 reinstatement fee.

• Driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs: one year to life, up to $1,200 reinstatement fee.

Discretionary Suspensions

The RMV can decide to suspend or revoke your license in any of the following discretionary situations:

• If you are determined to be an immediate threat to public safety and must be removed from the road.

• If you are determined to have improperly operated a motor vehicle.

As you can see, both of these are pretty general statements, giving the RMV a lot of leeway in deciding when to make discretionary suspensions or revocations.

Non-Motor-Vehicle Reasons for Suspension

The RMV is also allowed to suspend your license for many reasons that have nothing to do with driving a motor vehicle, including the following:

• Using a fake ID.

• Failing to comply with a child support enforcement order.

• Failure to appear on an outstanding arrest or default warrant.

• Failure to register as a sex offender.

• Being convicted of a drug offense.

What Happens When Your License Is Suspended

Once your driver's license is suspended or revoked, you must stop driving. If you are caught driving on a suspended license, kiss the idea of getting your license back anytime soon good-bye. You can lose your license for up to one year if caught driving on a suspended license. Plus, you should be prepared to pay a major fine ($500) and you could even face jail time.

You can ask for a hearing on your license suspension. Hearings are held on a walk-in basis at RMV offices. Hearings offices cannot decide guilt or innocence, only if the proper rules were applied when the suspension was originally given.

Reinstating Your License

Once your suspension is over, you may need to appear for a hearing at the Boston RMV office in order to reinstate your license. Please call (617) 351-7200 to find out if you need to appear in person.

If your license was suspended or revoked, be prepared to pay a reinstatement fee when your license is reinstated. This fee ranges from $100-$1,200, depending on the offense.

Applying for a Hardship License After Suspension

You can receive a hardship license after suspension if you can prove that you meet detailed criteria for reinstatement. Hardship licenses are granted at the discretion of the RMV in cases where a driver's license is needed to get to work, receive medical treatment, or attend school.

You will be expected to make your case to an officer at an RMV Suspension Hearing, which is held on a walk-in basis at several different RMV branch sites.
When applying for a hardship license, you need to arrive at the branch office by 4 p.m. Expect waits of up to an hour.

The RMV strongly recommends that you review written eligibility rules for your specific type of suspension prior to the hearing:

• OUI Hardship Criteria

• OUI Hardship Criteria, First Offense

• Drug Offense Hardship Criteria

• HTO Hardship Criteria

If you are granted a hardship license, you will need to pay the standard fees for license reinstatement. The cost ranges from $100 to $1,200, depending on the offense.