In Massachusetts there are very strict penalties for being pulled over for speeding if you are under the age of 18 years old, primarily the suspension of one's license for 90 days. Over the past summer, approximately 3 months ago, I was pulled over for speeding in NEW HAMPSHIRE, and I received a ticket. I paid up the dues on my ticket and never heard another word. Lo and behold, earlier this evening, I received a letter in the mail stating that my license is being suspended for the underage speeding. My question is, is there something wrong with this? New Hampshire law for speeding is not similar to Massachusetts law and considering I was in a different state and I already paid my dues for the offense, shouldn't I be off the hook? Please reassure me that I have a chance in my court appeal because this suspension will cause drastic inconveiniences for me. Thanks in advance.
2007-10-25 15:58:18 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
EDIT: I forgot to mention, I am a resident of Massachusetts and I do have Mass. plates, but would Mass. road laws still apply to me if I'm driving in another state?
2007-10-25 16:07:08 · update #1
There are currently 45 states which are members in the Drivers License Compact. Massachusetts is not one of the states, but will still report information to other states. New Hampshire is a member, and has reported the violation to your home state.
2007-10-25 16:27:21 · answer #1 · answered by CGIV76 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
There is this thing called the Non-Resident Violator Compact. Most states are members. What it says is basically that if you have a license from state A, and you get pulled over in state B, then state B is required to notify state A. State A puts the incident on your record according to its OWN laws, and treats the incident as if it occured in state A. The only difference is that they cannot fine you, because you pay the fine to state B.
2007-10-25 19:14:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To answer the question in your edit, no, Massachusetts road laws would not apply to you when driving in another state,
Now the bad news,
Since you were driving on a Massachusetts license, the Massachusetts LICENSE laws still apply, and the license laws were what you were suspended under.
2007-10-25 17:20:23 · answer #3 · answered by Gray Wanderer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry kiddo, Massachusetts law:
"Massachusetts has arranged to share driving-record and criminal-violation information with other states. Certain traffic offenses you have committed in other states will be placed on your driving record and treated by the RMV as if they had occurred in Massachusetts"
"Each state in the United States is required to notify the Massachusetts RMV of any traffic offenses you commit out of state. Again, these offenses will be treated as if they occurred in the Commonwealth if they are a “like” offense.
To determine what is a "like" offense, the RMV will look at what conduct the other state's law prohibits, not whether or not the other state chose to assess a higher or lower penalty, or treat the offense as a civil or criminal infraction.
Massachusetts state law requires the RMV to apply Massachusetts license suspension rules to any of these out-of-state violations, even if an offense did not cause a suspension in another state."
2007-10-25 16:10:52 · answer #4 · answered by Ashley 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes, you are responsible for the laws of that state as far as the roads go. after all, ure behind the wheels
2007-10-25 16:51:25 · answer #5 · answered by Police Officer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could you go to another state and obtain a license there?
2007-10-25 16:15:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋