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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 55 FILED ON: 1/10/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2294
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:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex 1 of 4
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 55 FILED ON: 1/10/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2294
By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2294) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation
to promote motor vehicle safety. Transportation.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2140 OF 2019-2020.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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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:
1 SECTION 1. Section 22F of chapter 90 of the General Laws is hereby amended by
2striking out, in line 57, the word “four” and inserting in place thereof the following word:-
3“five”.
4 SECTION 2. Section 22F of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby further amended
5by striking out, in lines 66-68, the following sentence:-
6 “An appeal to the superior court may be had, in accordance with the provisions of chapter
7thirty A, from any order of the registrar of motor vehicles made under the provisions of this
8section.”
9 SECTION 3. Section 22F of said chapter 90 is hereby further amended by inserting at the
10end thereof the following paragraph:- 2 of 4
11 “Any person previously deemed an habitual offender under this section who has not had
12their license or right to operate a motor vehicle restored to them by the registrar for a period of
13more than 5 years and who is convicted of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of
14intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs in violation of paragraph (a) of subdivision (1) of section
1524; operating a motor vehicle recklessly or negligently so that the lives and safety of the public
16might be endangered; making a false statement in an application for a learner’s permit or motor
17vehicle operator’s license or in an application for a registration of a motor vehicle; going away
18without making known his name, residence and the registration number of his vehicle after
19knowingly colliding with or otherwise causing injury to any person, other vehicle or property, all
20in violation of paragraph (a) of subdivision (2) of section 24; operating a motor vehicle after
21suspension or revocation of the person’s motor vehicle operator’s license or his right to operate
22motor vehicles in violation of section 23; operating a motor vehicle without a license in violation
23of section 10; or the commission of any felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is
24used, shall be deemed a level 3 habitual traffic offender and the registrar shall immediately
25revoke such person’s license or right to operate and shall not issue a new license or reinstate the
26right to operate for a period up to life but not less than 5 years from the date of revocation, nor
27until such person has satisfactorily completed a driver improvement course approved by the
28registrar and has passed such examination as to his competence to operate motor vehicles as the
29registrar may require.
30 Any person previously deemed an habitual offender under this section who has not had
31their license or right to operate a motor vehicle restored to them by the registrar for a period of
32more than 5 years and who is convicted of 3 or more convictions of offenses which are required
33by any provision of law to be reported to the registrar and for which the registrar is authorized or 3 of 4
34required to suspend or revoke the person’s license or right to operate motor vehicles for a period
35of 30 days or more, shall be deemed a level 2 habitual offender and the registrar shall
36immediately revoke such person’s license or right to operate and shall not issue a new license or
37reinstate the right to operate to such person for a period of not less than 5 years from the date of
38revocation nor more than 15 years from such date of revocation, nor until such person has
39satisfactorily completed a driver improvement course approved by the registrar and has passed
40such examination as to his competence to operate motor vehicles as the registrar may require.
41Provided further, that any person previously deemed a level 2 habitual offender under this
42section who has not had their license or right to operate a motor vehicle restored to them by the
43registrar for a period of 5 years and is convicted of operating a motor vehicle while under the
44influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs in violation of paragraph (a) of subdivision (1)
45of section 24; operating a motor vehicle recklessly or negligently so that the lives and safety of
46the public might be endangered; making a false statement in an application for a learner’s permit
47or motor vehicle operator’s license or in an application for a registration of a motor vehicle;
48going away without making known his name, residence and the registration number of his
49vehicle after knowingly colliding with or otherwise causing injury to any person, other vehicle or
50property, all in violation of paragraph (a) of subdivision (2) of section 24; operating a motor
51vehicle after suspension or revocation of the person’s motor vehicle operator’s license or his
52right to operate motor vehicles in violation of section 23; operating a motor vehicle without a
53license in violation of section 10; or the commission of any felony in the commission of which a
54motor vehicle is used; or 2 or more convictions of offenses which are required by any provision
55of law to be reported to the registrar and for which the registrar is authorized or required to
56suspend or revoke the person’s license or right to operate motor vehicles for a period of 30 days 4 of 4
57or more, shall be deemed a level 3 habitual offender and the registrar shall immediately revoke
58such person’s license or right to operate and shall not issue a new license or reinstate the right to
59operate for a period up to life but not less than 5 years from the date of revocation, nor until such
60person has satisfactorily completed a driver improvement course approved by the registrar and
61has passed such examination as to his competence to operate motor vehicles as the registrar may
62require. The registrar may revoke from any level 3 habitual offender who has had their license or
63right to operate restored and who commits an automobile law violation, as defined in section 1 of
64chapter 90C, the license or right to operate for a period up to life. The registrar may further issue
65to any habitual traffic offender who has satisfied the durational license revocation requirements
66provided for in this section a new license or reinstate such person’s right to operate under such
67terms and conditions as the registrar deems appropriate and necessary. Nothing in this section
68shall limit the authority of the registrar to revoke a license or right to operate or issue a new
69license or reinstate the right to operate under section 24 of chapter 90. An appeal to the superior
70court may be had, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 30A, from any order of the
71registrar of motor vehicles made under the provisions of this section.”