What are all the penalties for driving without a license in MA?
Tried google & wiki…nothing. Forgot my license at hotel with my wallet (was headed back)…told a**hole cop (that stopped me for not having insurance…it’s a f***ing rental car and all the paperwork was there showing, lo-and-behold, unexpired insurance cards!) my name and birthdate so he could look up my TX license and presented photo ID (college). He looks it up, and still gives me a citation for not having a license….he looked it up and saw I have one for Christ’s sake! Then he tows the rental car (saying the paper insurance card doesn’t mean squat) and leaves me by the roadside and says “Not my problem,” when I ask how to get anywhere. Sorry for the rant…but it was therapeutic and that guy was a complete prick. Should I even bother paying it (it’s out-of-state)? Should I report this jackhole to his lieutenant/captain/chief? Does it give points on my license? If so, how many? Thanks everyone!
Comments (3)
we sure do live in a differnt America in the old days all you had to do was go to court and the judge would dismiss it. Also all traffic ticket money went to libraries!
M.G.L.A. 90 ยง10 – Operation of motor vehicle without license; members of armed forces; nonresidents; suspension or revocation of license
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The motor vehicle of a nonresident may be operated on the ways of the commonwealth in accordance with section three by its owner or by any nonresident operator without a license from the registrar if the nonresident operator is duly licensed under the laws of the state or country where such vehicle is registered and has such license on his person or in the vehicle in some easily accessible place. Subject to the provisions of section three, a nonresident who holds a license under the laws of the state or country in which he resides may operate any motor vehicle of a type which he is licensed to operate under said license, duly registered in this commonwealth or in any state or country; provided, that he has the license on his person or in the vehicle in some easily accessible place, and that, as finally determined by the registrar, his state or country grants substantially similar privileges to residents of this commonwealth and prescribes and enforces standards of fitness for operations of motor vehicles substantially as high as those prescribed and enforced by this commonwealth…
Chapter 90: Section 20. Penalties and punishments
A person convicted of a violation of any provision of this chapter the punishment for which is not otherwise provided, or of a violation of any rule or regulation of the registrar made under authority of section thirty-one, shall be punished by a fine of not more than thirty-five dollars for the first offense, not less than thirty-five nor more than seventy-five dollars for a second offense, and not less than seventy-five nor more than one hundred and fifty dollars for subsequent offenses committed during any twelve-month period; provided, however, that any person convicted of operating a motor vehicle without having been issued a license by the registrar shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1000..
http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/gl-90-toc.htm
first plead not guilty. contact the d.a. by phone then letter sending him phot copies of your liscense and all other paperwork including the ticket and ask him to drop the case. If you dont respond your license WILL be revoved or suspended in your state, and it will cost you to get it back plus your insurance bill will jump up for several years. they can reach out and get ya one way or another, fight it but do so with respect or they get nasty. I would also write a letter to the chief of police politely telling him what kind of jerk he has working for him as a servant of the community. remember the pen IS mightier than the sword.