The Driver Control Unit of the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, which is located on the 4th Floor of the RMV at 630 Washington Street in Boston (Chinatown) has recently published a guide to understand the hearing process.
I recommend that clients be represented by a qualified attorney. However, not everyone is able to afford the services of a lawyer and many people who have had their licenses suspended represent themselves.
The following information is based on the Registry’s license suspension hearing guide.
You must complete and sign a numbered RMV hearing form. You will submit the signed and completed RMV hearing form to the hearings officer at the front desk on the 4th floor of the Boston Registry.
All Hearing forms are numbered and customers will be called by name based on the number on the Hearing form
Even though a customer may not be with a Hearing Officer it does not mean a customer’s case is not being researched. The Registry often has to get additional records from courts and other RMV departments. While a hearings officer is vvaiting for documents or information, he or she may move on to the next case.
At times, customers may be called out of order. The Registry appreciates each customer’s patience and understanding if a person with a higher number is being called ahead of a person with a lower number.
To expedite the hearing process, you should have your documents readily available before you are called for your hearing.
The RMV prohibits the use of cell phones in the hearing waiting area.
Restrooms are located on the 1st and 2nd floors of the Boston RMV Branch.
Having conducted a large number of hearings at the Boston Registry, I can say that the hearings officers work diligently quickly to handle as many cases as possible. While it may seem to those in the waiting area that the hearings officers are not working as quickly as possible, this is a misconception. During the hearing process, they are usually required to check multiple computer databases and perform a very detailed review of driving and court records. The Registry hearings officers strive to provide good customer service and to make your trip to the Registry as painless as possible.