Citations, surchargeable events and suspensions

Key points

1. You have 20 days to pay a civil motor vehicle citation or request a hearing.

   Source: Handbook p. 56

   “you must pay the required fine or request a hearing to dispute it. You have 20 days to do this.”
   Massachusetts Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 56

2. Every civil traffic fine has an added $5 public safety surcharge, and a hearing request costs $25.

   Source: Handbook p. 56

   “Every fine for a CMVI that comes from Chapter 89 or 90 of the Massachusetts General Laws will have an added $5 public safety surcharge. If you request a hearing, you must pay a $25 filing fee to the RMV.”
   Massachusetts Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 56

3. If you do not respond within 20 days, you are found responsible and charged a late fee.

   Source: Handbook p. 56

   “If you do not respond to a citation within 20 days, you will be found responsible and charged a large late fee.”
   Massachusetts Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 56

4. Driving 73 mph in a 55 mph zone brings a $185 fine.

   Source: Handbook p. 57

   “For example, if you drive 73 mph on a highway with a posted speed limit of 55 mph, you would get a $185 dollar fine.”
   Massachusetts Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 57

5. Speeding fines double in posted work zones.

   Source: Handbook p. 57

   “If you are caught speeding in a posted work zone, the speeding fine is doubled.”
   Massachusetts Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 57

6. Three speeding violations in 12 months bring an automatic 30 day suspension.

   Source: Handbook p. 59

   “If you are found guilty for three speeding violations within a 12-month period, your license will be suspended automatically for 30 days.”
   Massachusetts Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 59

7. Three surchargeable events in 2 years can bring a suspension and a required Driver Retraining course.

   Source: Handbook p. 59

   “If you have three surchargeable events within a two-year period, your license may be suspended. The RMV will send you a letter telling you to complete a Driver Retraining course”
   Massachusetts Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 59

8. Seven surchargeable events in 3 years bring an automatic 60 day suspension.

   Source: Handbook p. 59

   “If you have seven surchargeable events within a three-year period, your license will be suspended automatically for 60 days.”
   Massachusetts Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 59

9. A crash counts as at fault when your insurer finds you at fault and pays more than $1000.

   Source: Handbook p. 59

   “Has paid more than $1000 for collision, limited collision, or damage to someone else’s property”
   Massachusetts Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 59

10. Most reinstatement fees are $100, but serious offenses can cost up to $1,200.

    Source: Handbook p. 68

    “Most fees are $100. Fees for suspensions caused by serious offenses may be as high as $1,200.”
    Massachusetts Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 68

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Massachusetts practice test

1. 1. What happens to a Massachusetts driver who does not hold a Junior Operator license and is found guilty of three speeding violations within a 12 month period?

   1. A written warning is issued
   2. The license is suspended for one year
   3. The driver must retake the road test
   4. The license is suspended automatically for 30 days
   Show answer

   The license is suspended automatically for 30 days. Three speeding convictions inside twelve months trigger an automatic 30 day suspension for an adult Massachusetts driver, with no hearing needed to impose it. A warning is not part of the system at that point, a one year suspension is what a Junior Operator faces for a second speeding citation, and the road test is not the remedy. The manual also requires a driver retraining course after the suspension, and failing to finish it within 90 days extends the suspension until the course is done.

2. 2. What surcharge is added to every Massachusetts civil motor vehicle infraction fine under Chapters 89 or 90?

   1. Nothing
   2. A $50 court fee
   3. A $5 public safety surcharge
   4. A $100 surcharge
   Show answer

   A $5 public safety surcharge. Every fine for a civil motor vehicle infraction that comes from Chapter 89 or 90 of the General Laws carries an added $5 public safety surcharge. The RMV records all moving violations on your driving record, and an attested copy of that record costs $20. Criminal motor vehicle offenses such as OUI and leaving the scene are handled separately in criminal court and can bring license suspension and jail.

3. 3. How high can the reinstatement fee be for a Massachusetts suspension caused by a serious offense?

   1. As high as $1,200
   2. $25
   3. $100
   4. There is no fee
   Show answer

   As high as $1,200. Fees for suspensions caused by serious offenses may be as high as $1,200, on top of any course, road test or attitudinal retraining requirements. The reinstatement fee depends on the offense. A junior operator suspended for violating the passenger or night restriction pays $100 to reinstate, while a junior operator convicted of drag racing pays $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for a later one, along with a new permit exam, a Driver Attitudinal Retraining course and a new road test. Avoiding the offense is far cheaper than paying to get the license back.

Source: the Massachusetts Driver's Manual, Chapter 3: Keeping Your License. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.