can undo traffic court $25 fee, if poor

Cambridge MA

Description

Did you know? If you receive any form of public assistance you can ask your Massachusetts district court to waive your $25 fee for a traffic court hearing. (You would usually mail in the $25 with your ticket for a hearing.) All you do is fill out a two page "Affidavit of Indigency" at your district court, and the court clerk will send it to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Bring some forms of proof of public assistance, (food stamps, etc.), -or of your low income. After the court sends this to to the RMV, you can just mail in the traffic ticket with the box checked for "request hearing" without the $25 check, because now the RMV knows you've had the fee waived. You have 20 days to either pay or contest your civil traffic ticket. Eight years ago Massachusetts created a $25 "fee" to give folks pause before disputing their ticket. (The fee is returned if you win.) But the insurance surcharges on traffic fines, including for inspection sticker tickets, can really add up. They run roughly $500-$1200 for just one "2 points" ticket, -paid in insurance surcharge "installments" over six years! (The exact surcharge depends on your driving record, ins. co., and coverage.) So if that $25 is a problem, get it waived, and maybe you can save yourself some real money, by contesting a citation, or even just asking the magistrate for a break. But don't delay beyond the 20 days, -or you will pay other fines. Massachusetts car insurance rates are among the nation's highest and our traffic laws are also tough. By the way, any lawyer knows poor folk can avoid court costs and fees, but going to court yourself, not so many know! (I guess with courts now closed, I'm not sure how really how to do this, -but remember when they're there!)