by Attorney Brian E. Simoneau
16. October 2011 23:46
Driving on a suspended license is not a good idea. It is an especially bad idea to drive yourself to your hardship license hearing before the Division of Insurance Board of Appeal. Last week, a person seeking a hardship license made the mistake of driving himself to his Board of Appeal hearing. The man’s license was revoked for at least 4 years under the Massachusetts Habitual Traffic Offender Law.
Apparently, someone saw the man himself to court and informed the Board of Appeal or the Board member(s) personally saw the man driving. During his hearing, he was asked if he drove himself to his hardship license hearing. Under oath, the man admitted that he drove himself to the Board of Appeal hearing. Rightfully, Board of Appeal Chairman Matthew Mancini announced that the appellant would get no relief from the Board. Another Board member advised him of the serious consequences associated with driving on a revoked or suspended license. The man could have been arrested or criminally charged.
One thing is certain, whether the man is prosecuted or not, he will serve every day of his 4 year habitual traffic offender revocations and neither the Board nor the Registry will give him any type of hardship relief. A Registry official attended the hearing and almost certainly noted in the Registry’s records that he drove on a revoked license. When the Registry sees any evidence of driving while suspended on an active license suspension or revocation, the driver is automatically disqualified from being considered for hardship relief.
This situation underscores the importance of respecting your suspension or revocation and not driving. If you need to get back on the road, the best way to do it is to contact an attorney and do it legally.
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