Ticket Fines and Penalties in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Traffic Ticket Fines and Costs

Traffic fines are uniform throughout the state. But ultimately it's the circumstances (driving record, severity of infraction) that determine the fine. A speeding ticket fine, for example, will vary depending on how many miles per hour over the posted speed limit you were driving. The exact fine amount will be listed on your citation.

Speeding Surcharges

Massachusetts assesses a $25 surcharge on all speeding tickets. Thirty dollars of the surcharge goes to the Head Injury Treatment Services Trust Fund, while the remaining $20 goes to the General Fund.

Auto Insurance Rate Increase

Depending on the policies of your car insurance provider, a traffic violation may prompt a jump in your car insurance rates. You always have the option to counter rate increases by shopping around online to compare car insurance rates from different auto insurance providers.

MA Traffic Ticket Penalties

Penalties, like fines, are determined by a variety of factors, including severity of infraction, license type (CDL, Learner's permit, etc.) and driving record. Having surchargeable events added to your driving record and having your MA driver's license revoked or suspended are the two most common penalties.

Surchargeable Events

Instead of demerit points, Massachusetts has surchargeable events. All motor vehicle violations and at-fault accidents are considered surchargeable events that, in most cases, will appear on your driving record. If you accumulate too many, you will be penalized in the following manner:

• Three speeding violations within a 12-month span―Automatic 30-day suspension
• Three surchargeable events within a two-year period―Mandatory enrollment in a Driver Retraining course; failing to complete the course within 90 days of being notified will prompt the RMV to suspend your Massachusetts driver's license
• Seven surchargeable events within a three-year period―Automatic 60-day suspension

Read more about surchargeable events in our MA Points page.

Other Suspensions and Revocations

There are many other ways to have your MA driver's license suspended or revoked, and these include:

• Habitual Offender―Automatic four-year suspension if you're convicted of three major moving violations (OUI, reckless driving, etc.) or any combination of 12 major or minor moving violations within a five-year period.
• Out-of-State Suspension―Your license will be suspended for an indeterminate amount of time if it has been suspended or revoked in another state
• Immediate Threat―The RMV may suspend your Massachusetts drivers license if it deems you a threat to other drivers
• Improper Operation―The RMV may suspend your driver's license if you have driven your vehicle improperly
• Fake ID―Your license may suspend from six to 12 months for any type of ID infraction, including carrying a false ID, defacing a license or using false information when applying for an ID or license
• OUI First Offense―Automatic 180 Days if You are over 21 suspension
• OUI Second Offense―Automatic two-year suspension
• OUI Third Offense―Automatic eight-year suspension

In addition, there are many violations unrelated to driving that can also mandate a license suspension. Some of these include failing to register as a sex offender, failing to pay MA income tax and any drug offense conviction. Consult chapter two in the MA Driver's License Manual for a complete list of suspendible violations.

Penalties for Junior Operators

If you're between the ages of 16½ and 18, your MA driving privileges will be suspended for the following violations:

• Driving Without a Licensed Driver―60 day for first offense; 180 days for second offense
• Driving at Night During Curfew Hours―60 day for first offense; 180 days for second offense
• Speeding―90 days for first offense; one year for second or subsequent offense
• Drag Racing―One year for first offense; three years for second or subsequent offense
• Use of a Mobile Electronic Device―60 day first offense; 180 days second offense
• Negligent Operation and Injury From Mobile Phone Use―180 days first offense; one year for second of subsequent offense

The state also imposes strict penalties for drinking and driving. Any driver younger than 21 with a blood alcohol count (BAC) of 0.02% or higher will face an automatic suspension of their Massachusetts learner's permit or driver's license. In addition, permit and junior operator license holders convicted of OUI must complete a State Courts Against Road Rage (SCARR) course.

Penalties for Massachusetts Commercial Drivers

You're required, by law, to notify your employer within 30 days of receiving a traffic violation. This applies to all vehicles, regardless if you were cited in Massachusetts or out of state.

Major Offenses

You will lose your MA CDL for one year if convicted of any of the following offenses:

• Driving any vehicle with a blood alcohol count (BAC) of 0.08% or higher
• Driving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) with a BAC of 0.04%
• Refusing to submit to a sobriety test
• Leaving the scene of an accident
• Using the vehicle to commit a felony
• Driving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) with a suspended, revoked or canceled CDL
• Causing a fatality through negligent driving

Serious Offenses

These violations include:

• Speeding 15 mph over the posted speed limit
• Reckless driving
• Improper lane changes
• Following a vehicle too closely
• Driving a CMV without holding a CDL
• Driving a CMV without having your CDL in your possession
• Driving a CMV without the proper CDL endorsement
• Violating a state law of texting while driving

A second conviction of any combination of these violations will lead to the loss of your driving privileges for 60 days, or 120 days for a third or subsequent conviction of any combination of these offenses.

CDL Disqualifications

You CDL will be disqualified from anywhere from 180 days to one year for the following convictions:

• Violating a driver or vehicle out-of-service order while transporting nonhazardous materials
• Violating a driver or vehicle out-of-service order while transporting hazardous materials required to be placarded, or while driving a vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers