Many attorney’s websites are telling me that MAJOR violations only include such things as hit and runs, DUIs, OUIs, manslaughter by motor vehicle, etc. and that the Mass. RMV does not count accident surcharges (or groups them with minor moving violations). By state law, anyone with three major moving violations in a 5 year period is eligible to get their license suspended for 4-8 years. Does that sound right for someone who got into 3 non-serious accidents within 5 years?
Like I said, most attorneys I’ve looked into say accident surcharges don’t count but I can’t find anywhere that officially distinguishes between a moving violation and a major moving violation in the state of MA.
Depends on the severity and costs of the accident.
Surchargeable Point Schedule
The following is the current surchargeable point schedule in Massachusetts:
Major traffic violation (such as DUI): 5
Major at-fault accident (such as a claim over $2,000): 4
Minor at-fault accident (claim of $500 to $2,000): 3
Minor traffic violation (such as speeding): 2
You get a free pass on the first non-criminal minor traffic violation, which will not be subject to a surcharge. After that, the points start to rack up.
So the difference between major and minor is that $2,000 mark. $1,999 is minor.
But the following applies:
"Surchargeable Points" Affect Your License Status
In terms of your license status, the Massachusetts RMV cares a lot more about the number of violations you accumulate than the points, which have more to do with your insurance coverage (see below). Here’s how your license can be affected by "surchargeable events":
If you are found responsible for three speeding violations within 12 months,your driver’s license will be suspended automatically for 30 days.
If you collect five surchargeable events on your driving record within three years, you will receive a letter from the RMV instructing you to complete a driver retraining program. You must complete it within 90 days or your license will be suspended until you do complete the course.
Collecting seven surchargeable events within a three-year period will result in an automatic 60-day suspension.
If you’re a junior operator (younger than 18), you face a license suspension of 180 days for any combination of two speeding or drag racing violations, and a one-year suspension for a third violation.
But remember, this is only part of the damage. Your insurance company is going to raise your rates for every surchargeable event and will reduce your rates for a long-term clean driving record.
