Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90 Section 23, driving a motor vehicle with an Expired or Revoked Registration is considered a misdemeanor criminal offense and will result in a Criminal Citation being issued. The penalties for a conviction on a first offense Expired or Revoked Registration criminal charge include fines ranging from $500 – $1,000 and jail time of not more than 10 days. The penalties for a subsequent Revoked Registration include fines of $500 – $1,000 and jail time of 60 days to 1 year.

Criminal Citation for Driving with a Revoked Registration

If the police stop a car and learn that the driver does not have a valid registration or the registration was not properly renewed, the officer will issue a “Massachusetts Uniform Citation” for Driving an Unregistered Motor Vehicle. The driver will usually receive the traffic ticket in hand at the scene and the unregistered vehicle will be towed by the police. The citation will list the offense and the officer will Check Off the “crim” Box on the ticket to indicate that it is a criminal violation.

Once a Criminal Citation has been issued, it is imperative to take immediate action. Under Massachusetts Law, driver’s accused of driving without a valid registration have the option to have a Clerk Magistrate Hearing on an Application for a Criminal Complaint prior to Arraignment. In order to have a Clerk Magistrate Hearing, the operator must file the traffic citation with the applicable District Court within 4 days. Thus, it is highly recommended that individuals facing charges of driving with a revoked registration contact a Defense Lawyer about their case as soon as possible.

If a Clerk Magistrate Hearing is not properly requested, the District Court will send the operator a “Summons” to appear in District Court from an Arraignment. The case will be heard by a judge in the District Court that has jurisdiction over the town or city that the citation was issued in.

Why is my Registration Revoked in Massachusetts?

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, or RMV, may revoke a vehicle’s registration for a number of reasons, including:

It is important to note that even if the driver takes the necessary action to renew his or her registration with the Massachusetts RMV after receiving a citation for driving with a revoked or expired registration, the case must still be addressed in District Court.

Defending Expired / Revoked Registration Tickets in Massachusetts

As previously mentioned, it is best to speak with an attorney about your case as soon as possible. When defending tickets for Driving with an Expired / Revoked Registration, it is important to take proper action immediately in order to best defend the case when it is scheduled in court.

Often times, our Boston Revoked Registration Defense Attorneys are able to resolve charges of Driving with a Revoked Registration without our clients having a criminal record or license suspension. We have successfully handled charges of Driving without a Valid Registration in Courthouses throughout Massachusetts. Our firm charges a fixed legal fee that covers the entire criminal defense process.

Flat-Fee Criminal Citation Defense Lawyer

At Caselden Law, our firm has a strong understanding of the legal system and how it handles charges of Operating with an Expired / Revoked Registration. Our firm understands the enormous disadvantages that come with having a criminal record. Often, we are able to resolve charges of Driving with a Revoked Registration while preventing our clients from having a criminal record or driver’s license suspension.

Contact Our Firm for a no-obligation Fixed-Fee case quote. We will explain the process and will provide a clear quote for legal services during your free of charge initial consultation. Contact Us to speak with an experienced Massachusetts Criminal Traffic Citation Attorney about your case.

Fixed Legal Fees. Contact Us for a No-Obligation Case Quote.

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