Bill > H1993

This bill modifies the process for contesting civil motor vehicle infractions (traffic tickets) by establishing new procedures for requesting and conducting noncriminal hearings. Under the new provisions, a violator can contest a traffic citation by signing a request and mailing it to the registry within 20 days, with the registrar having final discretion on accepting late requests for good cause. If a hearing is granted, the clerk-magistrate will notify both the police agency and the violator of the hearing date. The hearing will be conducted by a magistrate or justice, with the citation serving as prima facie evidence. If found responsible, the violator must pay an assessment not exceeding the scheduled amount, in accordance with guidelines established by the chief justice of the trial court. The bill specifies that assessments must be paid within 20 days of notification, with the payment obligation automatically stayed during any appeal. Importantly, there is no right to a jury trial for these civil motor vehicle infractions, and the hearing must result in either a finding of responsible or not responsible, with no other dispositions permitted.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1993