Bill > H4375

This bill amends the Massachusetts General Laws to increase the penalties for offenses committed while driving on a suspended or revoked license. The key provisions of the bill are: 1. It creates new criminal penalties for operating a motor vehicle recklessly or negligently while driving on a suspended or revoked license, including fines and imprisonment terms of up to 2.5 years in a house of correction or up to 5 years in state prison if the operation causes serious bodily injury, and fines and imprisonment terms of up to 2.5 years in a house of correction or up to 10 years in state prison if the operation causes a death. 2. It specifies that these new penalties only apply to individuals whose license or right to operate was suspended or revoked due to a conviction, default/warrant, or other reportable offense requiring a suspension of 30 days or more. 3. It increases the mandatory minimum sentences for repeat offenders, requiring them to serve at least 1 year or 2 years in prison before becoming eligible for probation, parole, or early release. 4. It prohibits these offenses from being placed on file or continued without a finding, and excludes them from the provisions allowing a continuance without a finding under certain circumstances.