Suspended License

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Many people assume that getting caught driving on a suspended license is treated like a traffic ticket. It isn’t. In Massachusetts, driving with a suspended or revoked license is a criminal offense under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90, Section 23, and depending on why your license was suspended in the first place, a conviction can mean real jail time, not just a fine.

Massachusetts Suspended License Attorney Kevin R. Collins has extensive experience defending clients charged with driving on a suspended or revoked license throughout the Commonwealth. As a former prosecutor, he understands how these cases are charged and how to fight them, both in criminal court and with the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV).

Why Was Your License Suspended?

Massachusetts suspends licenses for many different reasons, and the reason behind your suspension often drives both the criminal penalty you face and the defense strategy available to you. Common causes include:

• OUI-related suspensions: including a chemical test refusal, a failed breath test, or a prior OUI conviction
• Habitual Traffic Offender (HTO) status, triggered by an accumulation of serious violations
• Unpaid fines or surcharges, including unresolved tickets or excise tax
• Failure to appear in court or pay a required fee
• Default or non-compliance with a prior court order
• Medical or age-related suspensions
• Out-of-state suspensions that carry over to your Massachusetts driving record

Because the underlying reason for your suspension affects everything from potential jail exposure to your eligibility for a hardship license, it’s one of the first things Attorney Collins reviews when you call.

Penalties for Driving on a Suspended License

Massachusetts penalties escalate quickly, especially for repeat offenses or suspensions tied to an OUI:

• First offense: Fines and the possibility of jail time, along with further license suspension
• Subsequent offenses: Mandatory minimum jail sentences apply in many circumstances, particularly when the original suspension was OUI-related
• Suspension tied to OUI: Driving on a license suspended for an OUI-related reason carries some of the harshest penalties under the statute, including mandatory minimum jail in certain cases

Unlike an ordinary traffic infraction, these charges go on your criminal record, not just your driving record, and can affect employment, housing, and other background checks long after the case is resolved.

Criminal Court and the RMV: Two Systems, One Case

One of the most confusing parts of a suspended license charge is that you’re dealing with two separate systems at once:

1. The criminal court, which will resolve the charge against you and determine any fine, probation, or jail exposure.
2. The RMV, which controls whether and when your license is reinstated, and whether you qualify for a hardship license in the meantime.

These two processes affect each other. Successfully resolving issues with the RMV, clearing outstanding fines, completing a required program, or securing a hardship license, can meaningfully improve the outcome of your criminal case. Attorney Collins works both sides of this simultaneously, coordinating with the RMV while defending you in court, rather than treating them as unrelated problems.

Hardship Licenses

Depending on the reason for your suspension, you may be eligible for a hardship license that allows limited driving privileges for work, school, medical appointments, or alcohol education programs while your full license remains suspended. Not everyone qualifies, and the process requires navigating specific RMV requirements. Attorney Collins can evaluate your eligibility and help you pursue one where appropriate.

How Attorney Kevin R. Collins Defends Suspended License Charges

• Reviewing whether you had actual notice of the suspension, which is often a required element of the Commonwealth’s case
• Investigating the validity and timing of the underlying suspension itself
• Identifying opportunities to resolve outstanding RMV issues that may reduce or eliminate criminal exposure
• Negotiating for reduced charges or alternative dispositions where appropriate
• Pursuing hardship license eligibility to protect your ability to work and meet responsibilities while your case is pending
• Representing you at trial when a fair resolution isn’t offered

Contact Massachusetts Suspended License Attorney Kevin R. Collins

If you’ve been charged with driving on a suspended or revoked license anywhere in Massachusetts, including Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, or Worcester County, don’t assume it’s a minor matter. Contact the Law Office of Kevin R. Collins for a complimentary consultation at (781) 430-8525 today.