Speeding Ticket Lawyer in Massachusetts

Why You Should Fight a Massachusetts Speeding Ticket

Many Massachusetts drivers accept speeding tickets without contesting them, not realizing the long-term consequences. A speeding conviction adds points to your Massachusetts driving record, which can trigger a license suspension under the Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP) if sufficient points accumulate, and which can cause insurance surcharges that significantly increase your premiums for years. Attorney Jeffrey C. Lavey fights speeding citations throughout Massachusetts and helps drivers protect their records and insurance rates.

How Massachusetts Traffic Hearings Work

Massachusetts speeding tickets give you the option of paying the fine or requesting a hearing to contest the citation. A non-criminal hearing is held before a clerk-magistrate at the district court. If you are not satisfied with the clerk-magistrate’s ruling, you can appeal to a judge. Attorney Lavey represents clients at both the clerk-magistrate hearing and the judicial appeal level, presenting the strongest available defense against each specific citation.

Common Defenses to Speeding Citations

Available defenses to Massachusetts speeding tickets depend on the specific facts of the stop and citation. Common defenses include: the radar or LIDAR equipment was not properly calibrated or maintained; the officer did not have an adequate line of sight to the cited vehicle when the measurement was taken; the equipment registered the speed of a different vehicle; the posted speed limit was improperly or ambiguously marked; or the officer’s visual estimation of speed was subjective and unsupported by reliable measurement. Attorney Lavey evaluates the specific evidence in every case.

Protecting Your License and Insurance Record

Avoiding a speeding conviction protects your Massachusetts driving record from SDIP points that trigger surcharges. Even a single speeding conviction can result in a 30% insurance surcharge for six years under the Massachusetts SDIP system. Two convictions can trigger a 60% surcharge. The potential insurance cost of accepting a speeding ticket over six years often far exceeds the cost of legal representation to fight it. Attorney Lavey advises every speeding ticket client on the long-term insurance consequences of conviction versus successful defense.

When Speeding Becomes a Criminal Matter

Most Massachusetts speeding violations are civil infractions handled through the civil traffic process. However, criminal charges arise in certain circumstances: racing on public roads is a criminal offense; driving at extreme speeds may rise to criminal negligent operation; and speeding that causes an accident resulting in serious injury or death may result in criminal charges for motor vehicle homicide or similar offenses. Attorney Lavey handles both civil traffic hearings and criminal motor vehicle charges.

Frequently Asked Questions