SENATE DOCKET, NO. 203        FILED ON: 1/10/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2140

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Bruce E. Tarr

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act promoting motor vehicle safety.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 203        FILED ON: 1/10/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2140

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1992 OF 2017-2018.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act promoting motor vehicle safety.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 22F of chapter 90 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out, in line 57, the word “four” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- “five”.

SECTION 2. Section 22F of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 66-68, the following sentence:-

“An appeal to the superior court may be had, in accordance with the provisions of chapter thirty A, from any order of the registrar of motor vehicles made under the provisions of this section.”

SECTION 3. Section 22F of said chapter 90 is hereby further amended by inserting at the end thereof the following paragraph:-

“Any person previously deemed an habitual offender under this section who has not had their license or right to operate a motor vehicle restored to them by the registrar for a period of more than 5 years and who is convicted of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs in violation of paragraph (a) of subdivision (1) of section 24; operating a motor vehicle recklessly or negligently so that the lives and safety of the public might be endangered; making a false statement in an application for a learner’s permit or motor vehicle operator’s license or in an application for a registration of a motor vehicle; going away without making known his name, residence and the registration number of his vehicle after knowingly colliding with or otherwise causing injury to any person, other vehicle or property, all in violation of paragraph (a) of subdivision (2) of section 24; operating a motor vehicle after suspension or revocation of the person’s motor vehicle operator’s license or his right to operate motor vehicles in violation of section 23; operating a motor vehicle without a license in violation of section 10; or the commission of any felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used, shall be deemed a level 3 habitual traffic offender and the registrar shall immediately revoke such person’s license or right to operate and shall not issue a new license or reinstate the right to operate for a period up to life but not less than 5 years from the date of revocation, nor until such person has satisfactorily completed a driver improvement course approved by the registrar and has passed such examination as to his competence to operate motor vehicles as the registrar may require.

Any person previously deemed an habitual offender under this section who has not had their license or right to operate a motor vehicle restored to them by the registrar for a period of more than 5 years and who is convicted of 3 or more convictions of offenses which are required by any provision of law to be reported to the registrar and for which the registrar is authorized or required to suspend or revoke the person’s license or right to operate motor vehicles for a period of 30 days or more, shall be deemed a level 2 habitual offender and the registrar shall immediately revoke such person’s license or right to operate and shall not issue a new license or reinstate the right to operate to such person for a period of not less than 5 years from the date of revocation nor more than 15 years from such date of revocation, nor until such person has satisfactorily completed a driver improvement course approved by the registrar and has passed such examination as to his competence to operate motor vehicles as the registrar may require. Provided further, that any person previously deemed a level 2 habitual offender under this section who has not had their license or right to operate a motor vehicle restored to them by the registrar for a period of 5 years and is convicted of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs in violation of paragraph (a) of subdivision (1) of section 24; operating a motor vehicle recklessly or negligently so that the lives and safety of the public might be endangered; making a false statement in an application for a learner’s permit or motor vehicle operator’s license or in an application for a registration of a motor vehicle; going away without making known his name, residence and the registration number of his vehicle after knowingly colliding with or otherwise causing injury to any person, other vehicle or property, all in violation of paragraph (a) of subdivision (2) of section 24; operating a motor vehicle after suspension or revocation of the person’s motor vehicle operator’s license or his right to operate motor vehicles in violation of section 23; operating a motor vehicle without a license in violation of section 10; or the commission of any felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used; or 2 or more convictions of offenses which are required by any provision of law to be reported to the registrar and for which the registrar is authorized or required to suspend or revoke the person’s license or right to operate motor vehicles for a period of 30 days or more, shall be deemed a level 3 habitual offender and the registrar shall immediately revoke such person’s license or right to operate and shall not issue a new license or reinstate the right to operate for a period up to life but not less than 5 years from the date of revocation, nor until such person has satisfactorily completed a driver improvement course approved by the registrar and has passed such examination as to his competence to operate motor vehicles as the registrar may require. The registrar may revoke from any level 3 habitual offender who has had their license or right to operate restored and who commits an automobile law violation, as defined in section 1 of chapter 90C, the license or right to operate for a period up to life. The registrar may further issue to any habitual traffic offender who has satisfied the durational license revocation requirements provided for in this section a new license or reinstate such person’s right to operate under such terms and conditions as the registrar deems appropriate and necessary. Nothing in this section shall limit the authority of the registrar to revoke a license or right to operate or issue a new license or reinstate the right to operate under section 24 of chapter 90. An appeal to the superior court may be had, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 30A, from any order of the registrar of motor vehicles made under the provisions of this section.”