Massachusetts Driving Law


Information on driving-related legal issues for Massachusetts residents, including drunken driving, speeding tickets, moving violations, junior operators, senior drivers, license suspensions, hardship licenses and more.

Author: Jessica Foley practices at Sullivan and Sweeney in Quincy, Mass.

Blawg Related Categories: Criminal Justice • States • Massachusetts • Solo / Small Firm • Legal Information • Private Defense

Recent Posts from Massachusetts Driving Law


  • Students and Crimes - even driving can impact your record!

    If you are the parent of a high school or college student who gets charged with a crime (or if you are a high school or college student) you are probably worried about the effects…

  • Breath Test at Police Station do not necessarily reflect BAC when driving.

    You get pulled over, you take some field sobriety tests and consent to a breath test. (NOTE: in Massachusetts you are not required to take a breathalyzer or any field sobriety tests.) You take the…

  • Junior Operators and Speeding.

    A question that has come up a lot in my practice recently is whether or not a Junior Operator's license will be suspended for a moving violation that is not speeding. The answer, after a…

  • Elderly Drivers are in the News Again!

    It is happening once again, a car accident, and an injury involving an elderly driver. Accidents happen every day but when they involve someone who is considered elderly (and it is a slow news day)…

  • Speeding in Massachusetts

    What's the big deal? "It's just a speeding ticket." "I would rather just pay the fine." Have you heard these statements, said them yourself? Section 17 of Chapter 90 of the General Laws of Massachusetts…

  • Junior Operators

    Massachusetts has recently enhanced the penalties for speeding and for Junior Operators receiving any motor vehicle citation. JUNIOR OPERATORS FACE A LICENSE SUSPENSION FOR EVERY SPEEDING TICKET. EVERY parent and junior operator should be aware…

  • Habitual Traffic Offender - Hardship License

    Have you received a notice that your license is suspended because you are a Habitual Traffic Offender (or "HTO")? You may not have been paying attention to your driving record, or even been unaware of…

  • But I will automatically lose my license if I refuse!

    This is a common statement regarding the current state of the law regarding breath test (or other chemical test) refusal in Massachusetts. It is true; if you don't take a breathalyzer your license WILL be…

  • What happens at a Clerk's Hearing for a Speeding Ticket?

    The time has come, you have gotten a speeding ticket (or a citation for some other civil moving violation), you mailed in the ticket, you got a notice for the date, and now it's game…

  • What happens at arraignment?

    Arraignment is when you are officially charged with a crime in front of judge. You get to arraignment one of four ways. The first way is a little less pleasant. 1. Worse case scenario -…