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MA
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This is the section for Massachusetts If you received a ticket or were arrested in New York State ( NY ) CLICK HERE
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Defending your Massachusetts
speeding ticket
As seen on TV
Unlike many other states, in Massachusetts a speeding
ticket or moving violation is a strictly civil matter. This means that you,
as the defendant, do not have all the same rights of someone who is accused
of speeding in Massachusetts that you would in a different state. The major
differences between defending a Massachusetts speeding ticket in Massachusetts
traffic court and one received out of state are as follows:
-
Your case is not heard
before a judge but a magistrate
-
In the magistrate’s
court there is a lesser burden of proof on the part of the state (by a “preponderance
of the evidence” instead of “beyond a reasonable doubt”
-
The officer who wrote
the ticket does not come to court so you cannot cross-examine
-
You as the defendant
can be compelled to testify
-
There is a no plea bargaining
policy
-
If you are found guilty
you have a right to a trial de novo (a new) before a regular judge
where the officer that issued the speeding ticket must appear
Because of the way the court is run it is more
important than ever to retain counsel to defend a Massachusetts red light
ticket, speeding ticket or other moving violation. Our Massachusetts traffic
court lawyers are skilled in using the rule and policies of the court to our
client’s advantage. We know what really happens in a MA traffic
court, and that is why it is so important to retain our lawyers to represent
you.
In the Massachusetts traffic court even though
we cannot plea bargain, there is a lot of negotiation that takes place. The
police department that wrote the ticket sends a single police officer to litigate
all of the tickets from that department. We conference the case with the officer
and the magistrate. We present your driving history to them and informally
discuss the case and the surrounding circumstances of the stop. Often we can
convince the court and prosecuting officer to convert your ticket into a warning.
When this happens the case ends right there.
However, sometimes we cannot so we do a trial.
Because the arresting officer is not there the ticket itself, as the accusatory
instrument, becomes a crucial document. Discrepancies, incompleteness, errors
and omissions in the ticket – even minor ones that would not lead to a dismissal
before a traffic court in another state often leads to a dismissal before
this court.
If we have to do a trial before the magistrate
the officer in court presents the case. While we have a right to cross examine,
since it is not the officer that wrote the ticket there is not much by way
of cross examination that can be done. After the officer rests it’s our turn
for you to testify. You do not have to testify; however, since this is a civil
court if you choose not to the officer can call you as a witness and so can
the magistrate. We can also produce other witnesses. At the close of trial
Magistrate decides the case. However, it is not a finding of “guilty” or “not
guilty,” but a finding of “responsible” or “not responsible.”
If you are found responsible, you can appeal.
However, this is not an appeal to a higher court to review the lower court,
but rather a “de novo” hearing (a brand new hearing) with a judge,
not magistrate, of the district court. In other words, you get a fresh shot
at the case. In that proceeding the officer who wrote the ticket has to appear
and the case is handled in a way similar to that in other states.
Typical charges our attorneys
defend
Our attorneys routinely defend all types of moving
violations. Some of the more common charges we represent Massachusetts motorists
in defending are as follows:
M.G.L. § 89:7C: Failure to “move over”
for emergency vehicle
M.G.L. § 89.4: Failure to keep right
M.G.L. § 89.4: Unsafe Lane Change
M.G.L. § 89:8: Failure to yield right
of way / prohibited right turn on red
M.G.L. § 89:11 Failure to yield to
a pedestrian
M.G.L. § 89:9: Failure to obey traffic
control signs and devices
M.G.L. § 89:9: Passing steady red
light
M.G.L. § 89:10: Wrong way on a 1 way
street
M.G.L. § 90:14: Passing stopped school
bus
M.G.L. § 90:10: Operating outside of
license class
M.G.L. § 90:8: Operating in violation
of a license restriction
M.G.L. § 90:14: Turning from incorrect
lane / general turning violations
M.G.L. § 90:24: Hit and run (personal
injury and property damage only)
M.G.L. § 90:17: Speeding
M.G.L. § 90:24I: Possession of alcohol
in a motor vehicle
M.G.L. § 90:7AA: Unrestrained minor
M.G.L. § 90:14B: Failure to signal turn
M.G.L. § 90:13B: Texting while driving
M.G.L. § 90:23: Operating under suspension
of driving privileges
M.G.L. § 90:24: Operating / driving
under influence of intoxicating liquor / alcohol
720 CMR 9.06(7): Following too closely
M.G.L. § 90:24: Reckless driving
730 CMR 7.08(15): Following too closely
730 CMR 7.08(5)(a): Negligent operation
Suspension penalties for MA
repeat traffic law offenders
The Massachusetts Department of Motor Vehicles
will suspend your MA driving privileges upon the accumulation of convictions
as follows:
1.
Getting three
speeding tickets within a 12 month period (not a calendar year) – mandatory
30 day suspension.
2.
Three surchargeable events, triggered upon accumulation of a combination of three
moving violations and/or surchargeable events within a 24 month period. Out
of state convictions are included in the calculation. The suspension can be
avoided if a course is taken prior to the suspension effective date, and if
the course is not taken it remains in effect indefinitely until a course is
successfully completed.
3.
Five surchargeable events, triggered upon any combination of moving violations and/or
surchargeable events within a three year period. Out of state convictions
are included in the calculation. The suspension can be avoided if a course
is taken prior to the suspension effective date, and if the course is not
taken it remains in effect indefinitely until a course is successfully completed.
4.
Seven surchargeable events, triggered by an accumulation of any combination of moving
violations and/or surchargeable events within a three year period. Out of
state convictions are included in the calculation. This causes an unavoidable
60 day suspension.
5.
Habitual Traffic Offender (HTO), triggered
upon an accumulation of a total of three major moving violations or any combination
of 12 major or minor moving violations within a five year period. Out of state
events are also included. The law mandates a four year revocation. Upon completion
the motorist is required to take a full driver's license exam and pay a $500
reinstatement fee.
Massachusetts driving under
the influence / OUI suspensions
For the purposes of calculating OUI suspensions
and chemical test refusal revocation periods, Massachusetts has a Lifetime
Look-Back Law. The RMV considers your entire history, including out-of-state
convictions. The suspension periods in Massachusetts for driving while intoxicated
are as follows:
45 – 90 days for a 1st
time DWI (210 days if under 21 years of age) if accepted to the alcohol /
drug program. 1 year for a first offense OUI drugs or liquor if not accepted
to the alcohol / drug program. Upon a 2nd offense, 2 years. Upon
a 3rd offense, 8 years. Upon a 4th offense, 8 years.
Upon a 5th offense, lifetime.
Massachusetts traffic courts
Both the initial magistrate trial and the judicial
trial occur in the District Court for the State of Massachusetts. There are
14 District Courts in Massachusetts, one for each county. Most counties have
more than one physically located traffic court. The advantage of using our
attorneys is that we cover traffic and speeding matters in all District Courts
of the State of Massachusetts.
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We
appear in all county district courts as follows:
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Barnstable County District Court
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Berkshire County District Court
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Bristol County District Court
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Dukes County District Court
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Essex County District Court
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Franklin County District Court
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Hampden County District Court
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Hampshire County District Court
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Middlesex County District Court
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Nantucket County District Court
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Norfolk County District Court
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Plymouth County District Court
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Suffolk County District Court
·
Worcester County District Court |
Barnstable County
Barnstable County has 3 district traffic courts
as follows:
District Court Department
Barnstable Division
Main Street, Route 6A
P.O. Box 427
Barnstable, MA 02630 |
Hears
traffic and speeding tickets written in Barnstable,
Yarmouth and Sandwich |
Falmouth District Court
161 Jones Road
Falmouth, MA 02540 |
Hears
traffic and speeding tickets written Falmouth,
Mashpee and Bourne. |
Orleans District Court
237 Rock Harbor Road
Orleans, MA 02653 |
Hears
traffic and speeding tickets written Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham,
Orleans, Harwich, Truro, Wellfleet and Provincetown. |
Berkshire County
Berkshire County has 3 district traffic courts
as follows:
Southern Berkshire District
Court
9 Gilmore Ave.
Great Barrington, 01230 |
Hears traffic and speeding tickets written in Alford, Becket, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox,
Monterey, Mt. Washington, New Marlborough, Otis, Sandisfield, Sheffield,
Stockbridge, Tyringham, and West Stockbridge |
Northern Berkshire District
Court
111 Holden Street
North Adams, MA 01247 |
Hears
traffic and speeding tickets written in Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida, Hancock, New
Ashford, North Adams, Savoy, Williamstown, and Windsor |
Pittsfield District Court
24 Wendell Avenue
P.O. Box 875
Pittsfield, MA 01202-875 |
Hears
traffic and speeding tickets written in Becket, Dalton, Hancock, Hinsdale, Lanesborough, Lenox,
Peru, Pittsfield, Richmond, Washington, and Windsor |
Bristol County
Bristol County has 4 district traffic courts as
follows:
Attleboro District Court
88 N. Main St.
Attleboro, MA 02703 |
Hears traffic and speeding tickets written in Attleboro,
Mansfield, North Attleboro, and Norton
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Fall River District Court
186 South Main Street
Fall River, MA 02721 |
Hears
traffic and speeding tickets written in Fall River, Freetown, Somerset, Swansea, and Westport |
New Bedford District Court
75 N. Sixth Street
New Bedford, MA 02740 |
Hears traffic and speeding tickets written in Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Freetown, New Bedford,
and Westport |
Taunton District Court
40 Broadway Street
Taunton, MA 02780 |
Hears
traffic and speeding tickets written in Berkley, Dighton, Easton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk,
and Taunton |
Dukes County
Edgartown District Court
P.O. Box 1284
81 Main Street
Edgartown, MA 02539 |
Hears
traffic and speeding tickets written in Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury,
West Tisbury, Chilmark, Aquinnah (formerly Gay Head), Gosnold, and Elizabeth
Islands |
Essex County
Essex County has 8 district traffic courts as
follows:
Gloucester District Court
197 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930 |
Hears
traffic and speeding tickets written in Essex, Gloucester and Rockport |
Haverhill District Court
J. P. Ginty Blvd.
P.O. Box 1389
Haverhill, MA 01831 |
Hears
traffic and speeding tickets written in Boxford, Bradford, Georgetown,
Groveland and Haverhill |
Ipswich District Court
188 State St.
Route 1 Traffic Circle
Newburyport, MA 01950-6637 |
Hears
traffic and speeding tickets written in Ipswich, Hamilton, Wenham, and
Topsfield |
Lawrence District Court
Fenton Judicial Center
2 Appleton Street
Lawrence, MA 01840-1525 |
Hears
traffic and speeding tickets written in Andover, Lawrence, Methuen,
and North Andover |
Lynn District Court
580 Essex Street
Lynn, MA 01901 |
Hears
traffic and speeding tickets written in Lynn, Marblehead, Nahant, Saugus,
and Swampscott |
Newburyport District Court
188 State Rd.
Route 1 Traffic Circle
Newburyport, MA 01950-6637 |
Hears
traffic and speeding tickets written in Amesbury, Merrimac, Newbury,
Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury, and West Newbury |
Peabody District Court
1 Lowell Street
Peabody, MA 01960 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Lynnfield &Peabody |
Salem District Court
56 Federal Street
Salem, MA 01970 |
Hears
traffic and speeding tickets written in Beverly, Danvers, Manchester
by the Sea, Middleton and Salem |
Franklin County
Franklin County has 2 district traffic courts
as follows:
Franklin County Courthouse
Greenfield District Court
425 Main Street
Greenfield, MA 01301 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Ashfield, Bernardston, Buckland,
Charlemont, Colrain, Conway, Deerfield, Gill, Greenfield, Hawley, Heath,
Leyden, Monroe, Montague, Northfield, Rowe, Shelburne, Sunderland and
Whately |
Orange District Court
1 Court Square
Orange, MA 01364 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Athol, Erving, Leverett, New
Salem, Orange, Shutesbury, Warwick and Wendell |
Hampden County
Hampden County has 5 district traffic courts as
follows:
Chicopee District Court
30 Church Street
Chicopee, MA 01020 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Chicopee only |
Holyoke District Court
20 Court Plaza
Holyoke, MA 01040 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Holyoke only |
Palmer District Court
235 Sykes Street, Suite 3
Palmer, MA 01069-1190 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Brimfield, East Longmeadow,
Hampden, Holland, Ludlow, Monson, Palmer, Wales and Wilbraham |
Springfield District Court
50 State St.
P.O. Box 2421
Springfield, MA 01101-2421 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Longmeadow, Springfield and
West Springfield |
Westfield District Court
224 Elm Street
Westfield, MA 01085 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Agawam,
Blandford, Chester, Granville, Montgomery, Russell, Southwick, Tolland
and Westfield |
Hampshire County
Hampshire County has 2 district traffic courts
as follows:
Eastern Hampshire District Court
205 State St. (Route 202)
Belchertown, MA 01007 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Amherst, Belchertown, Granby,
Hadley, Pelham, South Hadley and
Ware |
Northampton District Court
15 Gothic Street
Northampton, MA 01060 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Chesterfield, Cummington,
Easthampton, Goshen, Hatfield, Huntington, Middlefield, Northampton,
Plainfield, Southampton, Westhampton, Williamsburg and Worthington |
Middlesex County
Middlesex County has 12 district traffic courts
as follows:
Ayer District Court
25 East Main Street
Ayer, MA 01432 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Ashby, Ayer, Boxborough, Dunstable,
Groton, Littleton, Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend and Westford |
Cambridge District Court
4040 Mystic Valley Parkway
Medford, MA 02155 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Cambridge, Arlington and Belmont |
Concord District Court
305 Walden Street
Concord, MA 01742-3616 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Concord, Carlisle, Lincoln,
Lexington, Bedford, Acton, Maynard and Stow |
Framingham District Court
600 Concord Street
Framingham, MA 01702 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Ashland, Framingham, Holliston,
Hopkinton, Sudbury and Wayland |
Lowell District Court
41 Hurd Street
Lowell, MA 01852 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut,
Lowell, Tewksbury and Tyngsboro |
Malden District Court
89 Summer Street
Malden, MA 02148 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Malden, Melrose, Everett and
wakefield |
Marlborough District Court
45 Williams Street
Marlborough, MA 01752 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Marlborough and Hudson only |
Natick District Court
600 Concord Street
Framingham, MA 01701 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Natick and Sherborn only |
Newton
District Court
1309 Washington Street
West Newton, MA 02465-2011 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Newton only |
Somerville District Court
175 Fellsway
Somerville, MA 02145 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Medford and Somerville only |
Waltham District Court
38 Linden Street
Waltham, MA 02452 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Waltham, Watertown and Weston |
Woburn District Court
30 Pleasant Street
Woburn, MA 01801 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Burlington, North Reading,
Reading, Stoneham, Wilmington, Winchester and Woburn |
Nantucket County
Nantucket District Court
Town and Country Bldg., 2nd Fl.
16 Broad Street
P.O. Box 1800
Nantucket, MA 02554 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in all of Nantucket County |
Norfolk County
Norfolk County has 5 district traffic courts as
follows:
Brookline District Court
360 Washington Street
Brookline, MA 02445 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Brookline only |
Dedham District Court
631 High Street
Dedham, MA 02026 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Dedham, Dover, Medfield, Needham,
Norwood, Wellesley and Westwood |
Quincy District Court
One Dennis F. Ryan Parkway
Quincy, MA 02169 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Braintree, Cohasset, Holbrook,
Milton, Quincy, Randolph, and Weymouth |
Stoughton District Court
1288 Central Street
Stoughton, MA 02072 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Avon, Sharon, Canton, and
Stoughton |
Wrentham District Court
60 East Street
Wrentham, MA 02093 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Foxborough, Franklin, Medway,
Millis, Norfolk, Plainville, Walpole, and Wrentham |
Plymouth County
Plymouth County has 4 district traffic courts
as follows:
George N. Covett Courthouse
Brockton District Court
215 Main Street
Brockton, MA 02301 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Abington, Bridgewater, Brockton,
East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater and Whitman |
Hingham District Court
28 George Washington Boulevard
Hingham, MA 02043 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Hanover, Hingham, Hull, Norwell,
Rockland and Scituate |
Plymouth District Court
52 Obery Street
Plymouth, MA 02360 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Duxbury, Halifax, Hanson,
Kingston, Marshfield, Pembroke, Plymouth and Plympton |
Wareham District Court
2200 Cranberry Highway
West Wareham, MA 02576 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Carver, Lakeville, Marion,
Mattapoisett, Middleboro, Rochester and Wareham |
Suffolk County
Boston is in Suffolk County. There are a total
of 8 traffic courts for Boston and 1 for the rest of Suffolk County as follows:
Chelsea District Court
120 Broadway
Chelsea, MA 02150 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Chelsea, Winthrop and Revere |
Boston Municipal Court
Edward W. Brooke Courthouse
24 New Chardon Street
Boston, MA 02114 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Boston only |
Boston Municipal Court Dorchester
Division
510 Washington Street
Dorchester, MA 02124 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Boston only |
Boston Municipal Court
Brighton Division
52 Academy Hill Road
Brighton, MA 02135 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Boston only |
Boston Municipal Court Charlestown
Division
3 City Square
Charlestown, MA 02129 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Boston only |
Boston Municipal Court
East Boston Division
37 Meridian Street
East Boston, MA 02128 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Boston only |
Boston Municipal Court
Roxbury Division
85 Warren Street
Roxbury, MA 02119 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Boston only |
Boston Municipal Court
South Boston Division
535 East Broadway
South Boston, MA 02127 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Boston only |
Boston Municipal Court
West Roxbury Division
445 Arborway
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Boston only |
Worcester County
Worcester County has 11 district traffic courts
as follows:
Clinton Division
300 Boylston Street
Clinton, MA 01510 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Berlin, Bolton, Boylston,
Clinton, Harvard, Lancaster, Sterling, West and Boylston |
Dudley District Court
West Main Street
Dudley, MA 01571 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Charlton, Dudley, Oxford,
Southbridge, Sturbridge, and Webster |
East Brookfield District Court
544 East Main Street
East Brookfield, MA 01515-1701 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Barre, Brookfield, East Brookfield,
Hardwick, Leicester, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Oakham, Paxton,
Rutland, Spencer, Warren, and West Brookfield |
Fitchburg District Court
100 Elm Street
Fitchburg, MA 01420 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Lunenburg and Fitchburg |
Gardner District Court
108 Matthews St.
Gardner, MA 01440-0040 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Gardner, Hubbardston, Petersham
and Westminster |
Leominster District Court
25 School Street
Leominster, MA 01453 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Holden, Princeton and Leominster |
Milford District Court
161 West Street (Rte. 140)
Milford, MA 01757 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Mendon, Upton, Hopedale, Milford,
Norfolk and Bellingham |
Uxbridge District Court
261 South Main Street
Uxbridge, MA 01569-1690 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in, Blackstone, Douglas, Millville,
Northbridge, Sutton, and Uxbridge |
Westborough District Court
186 Oak Street
Westborough, MA 01581 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Grafton, Northborough, Shrewsbury,
Southborough and Westborough |
Winchendon Division
108 Matthews St.
Gardner, MA 01440-0040 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Ashburnham, Phillipston, Royalston,
Templeton and Winchendon |
Worcester District Court
225 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608 |
Hears
traffic & speeding tickets written in Auburn, Millbury and Worcester |
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Attack That Ticket Massachusetts 160 Doyle Road Holden, MA 01520
CALL: 1-877-99-NoTix (1-877-996-6849) Email: MassachusettsInfo@attackthatticket.com
Attorney Advertising Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Attack That Ticket for speeding ticket lawyers in MA, as well as Massachusetts traffic ticket attorneys. As Massachusetts Traffic Court Lawyers they also handle DUI DWI. How to fight a MA speeding ticket, How to defend a DWI in Massachusetts, DUI defense Massachusetts. Do you have a suspended license in Massachusetts? Aggravated Unlicensed Operation. How to defend a drunk driving charge in MA, Traffic Lawyers. We are also criminal defense lawyers.
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