In the state of Massachusetts, 16-year-old drivers are behind the wheel when the majority of crashes occur. Teens also receive the highest number of traffic violations in the state, requiring criminal defense firms to help all of the time. The violation rate for 16 year old drivers is 4 times the rate for all drivers and Massachusetts’ drivers between the ages of 16 and 17 crash 4 times as much as all drivers. Massachusetts’ teens are involved in more fatal nighttime crashes than any other group. Massachusetts is dealing with the problems associated with teen driving through its Graduated Driver Licensing Program or “Junior Operator License” (JOL) program. Once implemented and strictly enforced, JOL resulted in a 14% decrease in the rate of 16-year-old drivers involved in injury crashes. It also resulted in a 48% decrease in the rate of 16-year-old drivers involved in fatal crashes.
Continue reading DWI attorney to learn more about Massachusetts’s teen driving laws and the consequences for violating them.
Massachusetts Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) and Driver License Requirements
Massachusetts’ Graduated Driver Licensing program applies only to new, teen drivers. It is a three-state licensing system consisting of: learner’s permit, Junior Operator’s License, and full licensure. Under the terms of the learner’s permit, driver’s must:
• Be at least 16 years old
• Hold the permit for 6 months
• Complete 30 hours of classroom instruction
• Complete 6-8 hours behind-the-wheel training
• Complete 4-6 hours as an observer to another student driver
• Complete 12 hours of supervised driving
During the learner’s permit phase, teen drivers may not drive without a supervised driver (21 years of age or older) under any circumstances. Under the terms of JOL, teens must be a minimum of 16.5 years of age and:
• Are restricted from driving between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m., unless accompanied by a parent or guardian
• For the first 6 months, no passengers under the age of 18 unless supervised by a driver 21 years of age or older
• Must hold the license until age 18
To apply for a learner’s permit or provisional license, you must pass a vision and road test. You must also provide the following documents to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles:
• Social security card
• Birth certificate or U.S. passport
• Parent or guardian signature on the application
Full licensure is not automatic in the state of Massachusetts. You must satisfy all requirements of the learner’s permit stage and JOL. In addition you must:
• Fill out an application
• Take a vision test
• Take a road test
• Have a clean driving record
Massachusetts JOL License and Permit Violations and Penalties
If you hold a learners permit and you get caught driving unaccompanied, you will lose our permit for 60 days. You will have to reapply for the permit and pay a $100 reinstatement fee. For a second offense:
• Your license will be suspended for 180 days
• You will have to complete a driver attitudinal retraining course
• You will have to pay a $100 reinstatement fee
• You will have to reapply for your permit
A third offense will cost you a $100 reinstatement fee, a 12-month permit suspension, and you will have to reapply for your permit.
If you violate Massachusetts’ passenger restriction laws or time restriction laws, for a first offense:
• Your license will be suspended for 60 days
• You will have to pay a $100 reinstatement fee
For second offenses:
• Your license will be suspended for 180 days
• You will have to complete a driver attitudinal retraining course
• You will have to pay a $100 reinstatement fee
For third offenses:
• Your license will be suspended for 12 months
• You will have to complete a driver attitudinal retraining course
• You will have to complete a driver’s exam
• You will have to pay a $100 reinstatement fee
