There are approximately 64 ways to lose your license. The following is a list of Massachusetts License Suspension or Revocation Reasons. Many of these are automatic suspensions which are triggered by the court notifying the RMV of a conviction for a triggering offense. Out of state violations committed by someone living or licensed in Massachusetts will count as if they had occurred in Massachusetts.
65 Ways to Lose Your License
- Abandoning a Motor Vehicle, (90 day to 1 year suspension), G.L. c. 90 § 22
- Allowing or Employing an Unlicensed Person to Operate, (up to 1 year, license and/or registration suspension), G.L. c. 90 § 12
- Allowing an IID restricted driver to use a non IID vehicle, (up to 1 year license suspension), G.L. c. 90 § 12
- Breathalyzer Failure, above .08 BAC. (30 days), G.L. c. 90 § 24(1)(f)(2)
- Bribing an official regarding a Driver’s License (60 day disqualification) 540 CMR 2.06(a)(5)
- Cheating on the Driver’s License Written Test (60 day disqualification) 540 CMR 2.06(5)(a)
- Chemical Test Refusal (Breathalyzer Refusal), (180 days to lifetime), G.L. c. 90 § 24(1)(f)(1)
- Complaint of Improper Operation / Incompetent Operator. G.L. c. 90 § 22(b)
- Complaint Regulatory
- CDL Violations, (up to lifetime revocation & disqualification) G.L. c. 90F § 9
- Drag Racing: 30 day minimum suspension, up to 3 years, depending on whether driver has a regular license, JOL, or Learner’s Permit and whether it is first or subsequent offense. G.L. c. 90 § 17B
- Drug Violations, (up to 5 year suspension), G.L. c. 90 § 22
- Fake ID or False License (6 months to 1 year suspension), G.L. c. 138 § 34B, G.L. c. 90 § 22(e)
- False License Application (6 months to 1 year suspension) G.L. c. 90 § 24B (“COMP FRAUD LIC/ID”)
- False Motor Vehicle Insurance Claim (1 year suspension), G.L. c. 26 § 8B
- Failure to File Accident Report, (indefinite), G.L. c. 90 § 26
- Failure to Appear on Criminal Automobile Law Violation, (Indefinite license revocation), G.L. c. 90C § 3
- Failure to Notify the RMV re: change of name or address, G.L. c. 90 § 26A
- Failure to pay child support, (indefinite revocation), G.L. c. 119 § 16A, G.L. c. 90 § 22
- Failure to pay parking tickets on lease or rental car (indefinite), G.L. c. 90 § 20E
- Failure to pay Required Fees to the RMV
- Failure to pay motor vehicle sales tax
- Failure to pay Property Damage Judgment (indefinite), G.L. c. 90 § 22A
- Failure to Register as Sex Offender, (indefinite) G.L. c. 6 § 178C
- Failure to stop for a school bus, 2nd or subsequent offense, (1 year revocation), G.L. c. 90 § 14
- Habitual Traffic Offender: 3 major or 12 minor traffic violations, or any combination thereof, within any 5 year period. (4 year revocation) G.L. c. 90 § 22F
- Handicap Plate or Placard Violations, (30 days to 1 year revocation)
- Ignition Interlock Device (IID) Violations, (10 years to lifetime), G.L. c. 90 § 24.5
- Illegally Carrying Firearms in a Motor Vehicle (1 year suspension), G.L. c. 140 § 131C
- Immediate Threat to Public Safety (Indefinite Suspension) G.L. c. 90 § 22(a)
- JOL – Driving Outside of Hours or Passenger Restriction Violation, (60 days to 1 year) G.L. c. 90 § 8
- Learner’s Permit Violations: Driving without Licensed Person in vehicle or outside of hours (60 days to 1 year) G.L. c. 90 § 8B
- Leaving the Scene of an Accident, (1 to 10 year license suspension), G.L. c. 90 § 24
- Littering, (up to 30 day suspension), G.L. c. 90 § 22G, G.L. c. 270 § 16
- Medical Reasons including seizures or loss of consciousness, poor vision, psychiatric conditions, diabetes, epilepsy, and various other medical conditions which effect the safe operation of a motor vehicle. (Indefinite Revocation) G.L. c. G.L. c. 90 § 22(b)
- Minor in Possession of Alcohol, (90 day revocation), G.L. c. 138 § 34C
- Obstructing a Police, Fire, or Emergency Vehicle, 3rd offense, (driver retraining class), G.L. c. 89 § 7
- Operating After Suspension, (60 days to 1 year) G.L. c. 90 § 23
- Operating so as to Endanger, Negligent Operation, (60 days to 3 years), G.L. c. 90 § 24
- Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle (60 day to 1 year suspension), G.L. c. 90 § 34J
- Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs (OUI), (45 days to lifetime), G.L. c. 90 § 24
- Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs (OUI) with Child Endangerment (1 to 3 years), G.L. c. 90 § 24V
- Operating Under the Influence Causing Serious Bodily Injury (2 years), G.L. c. 90 § 24L
- Out of State Violations (indefinite), G.L. c. 90 § 22(c)
- Out of State Violations – CDL (indefinite) G.L. c. 90F § 8
- Payment Default: failure to pay a traffic ticket (Indefinite) G.L. c. 90C § 3(A)(6)
- Procuring Alcohol for a Minor, (180 day suspension), G.L. c. 138 § 34A
- Refusal to Have Tractor Trailer Weighed, (90 day license suspension), G.L. c. 90 § 19A
- Refusal to Submit to a Police Officer / Failure to Stop, (60 days), G.L. c. 90 § 25, 540 CMR 2.06(5)(b)(4)
- Registration Violations (6 month suspension), G.L. c. 90 § 3
- 3 speeding tickets in a year, with the year being measured from conviction date to conviction date (30 day suspension) G.L. c. 90 § 20
- 1 or more Speeding Tickets while on a learner’s permit (90 day suspension for 1st offense & 1 year for 2nd or subsequent) G.L. c. 90 § 20
- Speeding Tickets while on a Junior Operator (JOL) License (90 days for 1st offense & 1 year for 2nd offense) G.L. c. 90 § 20
- Stealing, Stripping, or Vandalizing a Motor Vehicle, (1 to 5 year license revocation), G.L. c. 266 § 28
- Stealing, Forging, or Falsifying RMV Documents, (1 year revocation), G.L. c. 90 § 24B
- Tagging, (1 year suspension), G.L. c. 266 § 126A
- Texting or Using a Cell Phone While Driving (JOL Only) 60 day suspension for 1st offense, 180 days for 2nd offense, 1 year for 3rd offese.
- Tinted Windows, 3rd offense, (90 day suspension), G.L. c. 90 § 9D
- 5 Surchargable Events in any 3 year period (indefinite suspension until NSC Attitudinal Dynamics of Driving Class is taken) G.L. c. 175 § 113B. After October, 2010 this will be replaced by 3 surchargeable events within any 2 year period.
- 7 Surchargable Events in any 3 year period (60 day suspension) G.L. c. 175 § 113B
- Using a Motor Vehicle without Authority, (1 to 3 year revocation), G.L. c. 90 § 24
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) related Violations: (1 year suspension). G.L. c. 266 § 139
- Vehicular Homicide, (15 year to lifetime revocation), G.L. c. 90 § 24G
- Vehicular Manslaughter, (15 year to lifetime revocation), G.L. c. 265, § 131/2
- Youth Alcohol Program (180 days), G.L. c. 90 § 24P
- Warrants, any outstanding arrest warrants, (indefinite license suspension), G.L. c. 90 § 22