Massachusetts Speeding Tickets: Civil Hearings and Criminal Citations

Historical Information Notice: This article preserves the context and scope of its original publication on 06/05/2023. Laws, policies, procedures and fees may have changed. Do not rely on it as a current filing or action guide. Consult a qualified attorney about current requirements and their application to your circumstances.

First identify whether the citation lists only civil motor vehicle infractions or includes a criminal offense. These procedures and deadlines are different.

Respond to a civil citation within 20 days

According to the Massachusetts civil ticket instructions, you generally have 20 days to pay or request a hearing. In a civil case the finding is responsible or not responsible; criminal plea terminology should not be used to describe every ordinary speeding ticket. Follow the citation’s response instructions and retain proof of submission.

Prepare for the hearing and any immediate appeal

Bring the citation, relevant photographs, records, and witnesses. The state’s hearing guidance explains the process. If eligible to appeal a clerk-magistrate’s civil finding to a judge, request the appeal immediately at the end of that hearing. Later appellate review involves separate deadlines and legal requirements.

A criminal citation requires a different response

The criminal citation instructions generally require signing and returning the citation to the designated clerk-magistrate within four days. Do not treat the civil payment or appeal boxes as a substitute. A citation combining criminal and civil allegations also requires particular care.

Assess license and insurance consequences separately

Driving history, the particular violation, and the applicable RMV and insurance rules affect consequences. A defensive-driving course is not a general right to erase a Massachusetts ticket. Ignoring a civil citation may produce additional fees or suspension; it should not be described as automatically producing a criminal arrest warrant. An out-of-state driver should also check home-state consequences.

Legal Disclaimer. Originally published: 06/05/2023. This article provides general information only and is not legal advice for any particular matter. Laws, policies, procedures, fees and agency practices may change; their application depends on the facts and jurisdiction. Consult a qualified attorney about your circumstances before acting on this information. Reading this article or contacting Blumsack & Canzano does not, by itself, create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. This material may be considered attorney advertising in some jurisdictions.