The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles suspends and revokes licenses by the thousands. In some cases, these suspensions are legally invalid and they can be overturned by going before the Board of Appeal of the Division of Insurance. In other cases, it may be possible to obtain a 12 hour hardship license, so that the person whose license has been taken away can legally drive. The Registry and Board of Appeal grant hardship licenses for work, school, or medical reasons. However, those are only the issuance reasons. There are no limitations on the use of a hardship license, so long as the holder does not operate outside of the 12-hour period.
The first step in appealing a suspension is to collect the required documentation such as the suspension notice and an updated copy of your Massachusetts Driving Record. If the suspension or revocation involves another state, it may be helpful to obtain your driving and court records from the other state.
Once you have the necessary documents, you should consult with a lawyer who specializes in license suspension appeals and hardship licenses cases. This consultation will provide you with the information necessary to decide whether to represent yourself, which is usually not recommended, or to hire a lawyer to get your license reinstated.
It is important to remember that any adverse decision of the Mass. RMV is appealable either to court or to the Board of Appeal of the Division of Insurance. Retaining qualified counsel can often make the difference between winning or losing that license suspension appeal.