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Massachusetts traffic tickets

Points, traffic school, deadlines and what a ticket does to your insurance in Massachusetts.

Speeding ticket$105–$265state schedule
License at risk3 ptsin 24 months
Driver Retraining Program (mandatory, after 3 incidents)No
Insurance after 1 ticket+25%on $2,172 a year

What will my ticket really cost? Check my points

What kind of ticket did you get?

Which court is on your ticket?

One statewide schedule sets most fines. Pick the court named on your ticket.

Every other Massachusetts county court

Phone, pay-online link and traffic school steps for 4 more courts. Tap a county to open it.

Essex County(978) 744-1167Pays online

Salem District Court. Fines follow the Massachusetts statewide schedule.

Address
56 Federal St., Salem, MA 01970
Phone
(978) 744-1167
Hours
Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Pay or look up your ticket ↗ mass.gov ↗

Norfolk County(781) 329-4777Pays online

Dedham District Court. Fines follow the Massachusetts statewide schedule.

Address
631 High St., Dedham, MA 02026
Phone
(781) 329-4777
Hours
Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Pay or look up your ticket ↗ mass.gov ↗

Suffolk County(617) 788-8600Pays online

Boston Municipal Court, Central Division. Fines follow the Massachusetts statewide schedule.

Address
24 New Chardon Street, Edward W. Brooke Courthouse, Boston, MA 02114
Phone
(617) 788-8600
Hours
Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Pay or look up your ticket ↗ mass.gov ↗

Worcester County(508) 831-2010Pays online

Worcester District Court. Fines follow the Massachusetts statewide schedule.

Address
225 Main St., Worcester, MA 01608
Phone
(508) 831-2010
Hours
Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Pay or look up your ticket ↗ mass.gov ↗

What are your options with a Massachusetts ticket?

Paying is the fastest route, and it usually puts the ticket on your record. Here is every route Massachusetts offers, and what each one changes.

  1. Pay the ticket

    Pay the amount on the citation within 20 days online, by mail to the Citation Processing Center, or by phone. Wait 10 days after the stop before paying online.

    What it does: Ends the case with no criminal record. It counts as a finding of responsibility for the RMV and your insurer, so it becomes a surchargeable incident.[4][15]

  2. Request a hearing with a magistrate

    Within 20 days, sign box 2 on the citation and mail it with $25, or request it online. The local District Court or Boston Municipal Court sets a date.

    What it does: The magistrate finds you responsible or not responsible. No other outcome is allowed. If you are found not responsible on every violation, the $25 is refunded.[4][16]

    Cost: $25 filing fee

  3. Appeal to a judge

    Ask at the end of the magistrate hearing and pay the $50 fee to the clerk-magistrate.

    What it does: A judge hears the case fresh. Police can also appeal a finding in your favor.[17][4]

    Cost: $50 nonrefundable fee

  4. Appeal to the Appellate Division

    File a claim of appeal within 10 days of the judge's finding.

    What it does: Two judges review only legal errors, not the facts.[17]

    Cost: $180 filing fee

What does the Massachusetts state schedule charge for speeding?

1–10 mph over$105[6][3]
11–15 mph over$105 + $10 per mph over 10[6][3]
16–20 mph over$155 + $10 per mph over 15[6][3]
21–25 mph over$205 + $10 per mph over 20[6][3]
26+ mph over$255 + $10 per mph over 25[6][3]

Every civil ticket since Dec. 1, 2013 carries a $5 public safety surcharge.[6][3][16][4]

Every fine on the Massachusetts schedule (21)
TicketYou pay
Speeding, 1–10 mph overPrinted as: Speeding (c.90 §17), up to 10 mph overTotal adds up the printed parts: $50 fine, $10 for each mph beyond 10 over, the $50 head injury surcharge and the $5 public safety surcharge.$105[6][3]
Speeding, 11–15 mph overPrinted as: Speeding, 11 to 15 mph over$115 at 11 over, rising $10 per mph to $155 at 15 over.$105 + $10 per mph over 10[6][3]
Speeding, 16–20 mph overPrinted as: Speeding, 16 to 20 mph over$165 at 16 over to $205 at 20 over.$155 + $10 per mph over 15[6][3]
Speeding, 21–25 mph overPrinted as: Speeding, 21 to 25 mph over$215 at 21 over to $255 at 25 over.$205 + $10 per mph over 20[6][3]
Speeding, 26+ mph overPrinted as: Speeding, 26 or more mph over$265 at 26 over, then $10 more for each extra mph.$255 + $10 per mph over 25[6][3]
Speeding in a school zoneNo separate school-zone amount.$105[6][8]
Speeding in construction zone (90/17/C)Up to 10 mph over: $100 plus the $50 head injury surcharge and $5 public safety surcharge.$155[6][8]
Red lightOn your notice[6][10]
Stop/yield, fail to, first offenseSecond or later offense: $150 plus the $5 surcharge ($155).$105[6][10]
Yield at intersection, failAlso covers right-on-red and left-turn yield violations.$40[6]
Electronic device, use while operating, first offenseSecond offense $250 and third or later $500, each plus $5.$105[6][9]
Seat belt, fail wearThe driver also owes $25 for each passenger not belted.$30[6]
School bus, fail stop for, first offenseSecond offense $1,000 and third $2,000, each plus $5.$255[6]
Uninsured motor vehicleCriminal charge, not a payable ticket.$500–$5,000[6][11]
Unregistered motor vehicle, first offenseSubsequent offense $1,000 plus $5.$105[6]
Inspection sticker, no$55[6]
Marked lanes violation$105[6]
Signal, fail to$30[6]
Turn, improper, first offenseSecond offense $75 and third $150, each plus $5.$40[6]
Crosswalk violation$205[6]
Passing violation$105[6]

How many points is a speeding ticket in Massachusetts?

How points work in Massachusetts

Massachusetts counts surchargeable incidents instead of license points. Three in 2 years means a mandatory driver retraining course. Seven in 3 years brings a 60-day suspension. A third speeding ticket in 12 months means at least 30 days off the road. For insurance, a minor violation such as speeding adds 2 Safe Driver points and a major one such as OUI adds 5. Paying a civil ticket counts the same as being found responsible.[2][3][4][12][18]

Commercial driver? Points and disqualifications work differently. How tickets affect a CDL →

When can you lose your license?

  1. 3 ptsin 24 monthsThree surchargeable incidents[2][12]
  2. 7 ptsin 36 monthsSeven surchargeable incidents[2][12]
  3. 3 ptsin 12 monthsThird speeding ticket in 12 months[3][12]
  4. 12 ptsin 60 monthsHabitual traffic offender[12]
Full wording of each rule
  • 3 points in 24 months: Three surchargeable incidents: you get 90 days from the RMV notice to finish the National Safety Council driver retraining course, or your license is suspended until you do. No hardship license.
  • 7 points in 36 months: Seven surchargeable incidents: 60-day suspension, starting 30 days after the notice. No hardship license.
  • 3 points in 12 months: Third speeding ticket in 12 months: license suspended or revoked for 30 days. No hardship license.
  • 12 points in 60 months: Habitual traffic offender: 3 major violations, or any 12 major or minor moving violations, in 5 years brings a 4-year revocation. A hardship license may be possible.

Getting your license back after a suspension costs $100 in Massachusetts, before any course or court costs.[14][13]

Drivers under 21

Junior operators (under 18) found responsible for speeding lose their license for 90 days on a first offense and 1 year on a later one. They must also take a road-rage course and an attitudinal course, pass a road test, and pay a $500 reinstatement fee plus a $50 surcharge. A learner's permit holder caught speeding loses the permit for 90 days, or 1 year for a later offense.[3]

Can Driver Retraining Program (mandatory, after 3 incidents) keep a ticket off your record in Massachusetts?

No. Finishing the retraining course on time stops the 3-incident suspension.[12]

How often: Each time a new 3-incident notice is issued.

Is it worth it for your ticket? Get a yes or no →

Who qualifies, CDL drivers and cost

Finishing the retraining course on time stops the 3-incident suspension. It does not dismiss any ticket.[12]

Who can use it: Required when the RMV sends a notice for 3 surchargeable incidents in 2 years. It is required again each time a new 3-incident notice is issued.[12]

Do school and work zones cost more?

School zones

No extra fine. A school zone set by the city or town has a 20 mph limit, and the normal speeding assessment applies.[8][6]

Work zones

Doubled. Speeding through a marked construction zone costs twice the normal fine: $100 plus $20 for each mph beyond 10 over, plus surcharges.[8][6]

When is your ticket due?

  1. 20daysPay or respondfrom the ticket date[4][15]
    Details

    Pay the ticket or request a hearing. If you miss it: You lose the right to a hearing, late and release fees are added, and the RMV sends a default notice.

  2. 0daysAppeal a magistrate's finding to a judgefrom the court date[17][4]
    Details

    Appeal a magistrate's finding to a judge. If you miss it: Ask at the end of the magistrate hearing. A $50 fee is due before the judge hears it.

  3. 10daysLast day to appealfrom the court date[17]
    Details

    Appeal a judge's finding to the Appellate Division. If you miss it: Only questions of law. Filing fee $180. The court cannot extend the 10 days.

  4. 20daysPay an assessment set at a hearingfrom the notice date[4]
    Details

    Pay an assessment set at a hearing. If you miss it: The RMV revokes your license and registration until it is paid.

  5. 30daysLicense suspended if ignoredfrom the notice date[4][15]
    Details

    Pay after an RMV default notice. If you miss it: License suspended by operation of law until the ticket and fees are paid.

  6. 90daysFinish traffic schoolfrom the notice date[2][12]
    Details

    Finish the driver retraining course after a 3-incident notice. If you miss it: License suspended until you finish the course.

What happens if you don't respond

For a civil ticket, missing the 20-day deadline or a hearing puts you in default. The RMV mails a notice, and if you don't pay the ticket plus late fees within 30 days your license is suspended until you do. For a criminal motor vehicle charge, the court notifies the RMV, which revokes your license and registration until the clerk certifies the case is handled. The court can also issue a warrant.[4][15]

Work out your exact dates → · Already missed it?

Will an out-of-state ticket follow you home?

Out-of-state violations count toward every Massachusetts suspension rule, including the 3 and 7 incident rules and the 3 speeding rule. The RMV gives out-of-state convictions the same effect as Massachusetts ones.[5][12]

How out-of-state tickets work →

How much will it raise your insurance in Massachusetts?

One speeding ticket raised a full-coverage premium by about 25% on average in Massachusetts[1], from a clean-record average of $2,172 a year.[1] If that increase stays for three years, that's about $1,629 on top of the fine.

Averages from ValuePenguin State of Auto Insurance in 2026, not a quote. Insurers differ, and many look back three to five years.

Where are the official pages?

What else do people ask?

How do points work in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts counts surchargeable incidents instead of license points. Three in 2 years means a mandatory driver retraining course. Seven in 3 years brings a 60-day suspension. A third speeding ticket in 12 months means at least 30 days off the road. For insurance, a minor violation such as speeding adds 2 Safe Driver points and a major one such as OUI adds 5. Paying a civil ticket counts the same as being found responsible.

How many points before your license is at risk in Massachusetts?

3 points in 24 months: Three surchargeable incidents: you get 90 days from the RMV notice to finish the National Safety Council driver retraining course, or your license is suspended until you do. No hardship license.

Is there traffic school for tickets in Massachusetts?

Finishing the retraining course on time stops the 3-incident suspension. It does not dismiss any ticket.

How long do I have to pay or respond to a ticket in Massachusetts?

20 days from the citation. If you miss it: You lose the right to a hearing, late and release fees are added, and the RMV sends a default notice.

Will an out-of-state ticket follow me home to Massachusetts?

Massachusetts is a member of the Driver License Compact, so convictions in other member states are reported to Massachusetts. Out-of-state violations count toward every Massachusetts suspension rule, including the 3 and 7 incident rules and the 3 speeding rule. The RMV gives out-of-state convictions the same effect as Massachusetts ones.

How much does a speeding ticket raise insurance in Massachusetts?

About 25% on average for full coverage, according to ValuePenguin State of Auto Insurance in 2026. Your insurer's rate can differ a lot from the average.

Sources

Massachusetts law and DMV sources (18)
  1. AAMVA DLC/NRVC Member Joinder Dates (rev. April 2026), AAMVA.
  2. M.G.L. c.175 §113B (Safe Driver Insurance Plan, 3 surchargeable incidents and 7 violations rules), Massachusetts Legislature.
  3. M.G.L. c.90 §20 (penalties, speeding fine and $50 surcharge, third speeding conviction, junior operators), Massachusetts Legislature.
  4. M.G.L. c.90C §3 (civil motor vehicle infractions: pay or contest within 20 days), Massachusetts Legislature.
  5. M.G.L. c.90 §22(c) (out-of-state convictions given same effect), Massachusetts Legislature.
  6. Table of Citable Motor Vehicle Offenses and CMVI Assessments (revised 1/14/2022), Massachusetts District Court and Registry of Motor Vehicles.
  7. District Court Administrative Regulation 2-86: Schedule of assessments for civil motor vehicle infractions, Massachusetts District Court.
  8. M.G.L. c.90 §17 (speed limits, school zones, construction zones), Massachusetts Legislature.
  9. M.G.L. c.90 §13B (hands-free law), Massachusetts Legislature.
  10. M.G.L. c.89 §9 (stop signs, flashing red, blocking intersections), Massachusetts Legislature.
  11. M.G.L. c.90 §34J (uninsured motor vehicle), Massachusetts Legislature.
  12. RMV: Suspensions from multiple offenses, Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.
  13. RMV: Reinstate your driver's license, Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.
  14. M.G.L. c.90 §33 (RMV fees, license reinstatement), Massachusetts Legislature.
  15. RMV: Pay your traffic ticket, Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.
  16. RMV: Appeal your traffic ticket, Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.
  17. Who can appeal a traffic ticket decision?, Boston Municipal Court and District Court Departments.
  18. RMV: Surchargeable incidents, Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.
Insurance sources (4)
  1. State of Auto Insurance in 2026, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
  2. Car Insurance Rate Increases with a Speeding Ticket in 2026, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
  3. How Does a DUI Affect Your Auto Insurance Rates in 2026?, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
  4. How Much Will My Car Insurance Rates Go Up After a Crash in 2026?, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).