How do I contest a traffic or parking ticket in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, many traffic citations give you a choice: pay the scheduled assessment or request a hearing to contest responsibility. For state civil motor vehicle infractions, the citation must tell you that you have a set time to pay or ask for a noncriminal hearing before a district court magistrate. Municipal parking or by-law notices may be handled instead by a municipal hearing officer, with informal administrative hearings or review by mail.
People usually either pay the fine (which disposes of the matter) or make a written request for a hearing and pay any required filing fee. Procedures, timing, and where to send the request depend on the type of ticket and the form of notice issued by the officer or municipality.
Current Massachusetts law
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The deadline that matters
Pay or request a hearing within 20 days of the citation, under M.G.L. c. 90C, § 3.
What Massachusetts law says
State law generally requires that a citation for a civil motor vehicle infraction notify the alleged violator of the scheduled assessment and that the person must, within the period stated on the citation, either pay the assessment or contest responsibility by requesting a noncriminal hearing before a district court magistrate, under M.G.L. c. 90C, § 3. Municipal parking and ordinance notices are handled under local processes: parking clerks and notices to appear are governed by M.G.L. c. 90, § 20A and M.G.L. c. 90, § 20A1/2. Municipal ordinance or by-law violations issued as notices to appear are resolved before a municipal hearing officer under M.G.L. c. 40U, § 14, and the municipal officer may schedule an informal hearing or accept a mailed review and disposition under M.G.L. c. 40U, § 13. For certain stops involving refusal to give name or address, officers may issue notices to appear with specified content and timing under M.G.L. c. 270, § 16A.
What to do
A common first step is to read the citation carefully to see whether it is a civil motor vehicle infraction, a parking/municipal notice, or another type of violation and where the citation directs you to respond.
A common next step is to decide whether to pay the scheduled assessment listed on the citation (which disposes of the matter) or to request a hearing as described on the ticket.
A common option is to send a signed written request for a noncriminal hearing or municipal hearing officer review, along with any required filing fee, to the address shown on the citation.
A common step before a hearing is to collect any supporting materials: signed statements, photos, diagrams, or witness information to submit if the process allows mail review or an in-person hearing.
A common final step is to follow the hearing notice instructions: attend the scheduled hearing or use the mail review procedure if the municipal hearing officer permits it.
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Common questions
Can I contest a ticket by mail in Massachusetts?
Yes. For municipal notices many towns allow a mailed review by the municipal hearing officer if you send a signed statement and any supporting materials; the officer must review and notify you of the disposition within 21 days, under M.G.L. c. 40U, § 13.
What happens if I pay the scheduled assessment on the citation?
Payment of the scheduled assessment operates as a final disposition of the matter and is not entered in criminal or probation records, though it is treated as an admission of responsibility for motor vehicle registration and safe-driver insurance purposes, under M.G.L. c. 90C, § 3.
How quickly must a municipal hearing be scheduled after I request one?
If you timely request a hearing before a municipal hearing officer, the officer must schedule a hearing not later than 45 days after receiving the hearing request, under M.G.L. c. 40U, § 14.
What information must a parking or notice-to-appear include?
Parking notices or tags must include details such as vehicle make, color, registration number, date, time and place of the violation, the specific violation charged, officer name and badge, a schedule of fines, and instructions for returning the notice and obtaining a hearing, under M.G.L. c. 90, § 20A and M.G.L. c. 90, § 20A1/2.
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This page provides legal information about Massachusetts law, not legal advice. CiteLaw is not a law firm and does not represent you. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.
