Massachusetts RMV Permit Test

Hands-Free Electronics While Driving

Can't use any electronic devices while driving unless hands-free mode. Teens can't use ANY at all.

1st offense $100 fine

2nd offense $250 fine + educational program

3rd+ $500 fine, insurance surcharge and educational program

Out-of-State Violations

Treated the same as if in MA, so don't ignore.

Move Over Law

If an emergency or maintenance vehicle is stationary in one lane, move to the next lane and slow down if safe. On 4 lane+ highway leave an open lane.

Turning at Red Traffic Light

After coming to full stop you can turn right unless there is a "no turn on red" sign. Can turn left from one-way street to another one-way. Yield first.

Three Second Rule

Minimum 3 seconds distance in GOOD conditions, minimum 4 seconds POORER conditions, highway and behind motorcycle.

HOV

High Occupancy Vehicle

Age of JOL

16 1/2 to 18 years old.

6 month rule

Within first 6 months of JOL you can't have any passenger below 18 years old unless there's another person in the car who is at least 21 years old, sitting next to you, licensed and at least 1 year driving experience.

JOL Night restriction

With JOL you can't use vehicle between 12:30AM and 5:30 AM without parents or legal guardian.

JOL Night restriction violation

1st offense 60 days suspended; 2nd offense 180 days suspended; 3rd+ offense 1 year. 2+ offenses you have to take course.

JOL if you have offenses with alcohol + drugs involved?

1 year suspension for a MINOR; 18+ 180 days

JOL drag racing offenses

1st offense one year suspension; 2+ offenses 3 year suspension

Class D learner's permit minimum age

16 years old

How long is learner's permit valid?

2 years maximum

Class D Learner's Permit limitations

Must be with licensed passenger next to you. At least 21 years old. At least ONE year of driving experience.

Class D Learner's Permit Night restriction

Under 18 can't drive 12AM - 5AM without licensed parent/legal guardian.

Class M Learner's Permit limitations

No passengers allowed. Daylight hours only. US DOT standard helmet. Protective eye gear.

Do you have to do Driver's Ed if over 18?

Under 18 YES, over 18 NO.

How to get license as a minor

16 1/2 to 18 years old NEED Driver's Ed, pass final exam, and have Driver's Ed certificate approved by RMV.

ALSO: 40 hours supervised driving, 30 if through Driver's Ed. Parent at least 2 hours with you in Driver's Ed.

Class D license maximum amount of road tests?

Maximum 6 tests in 12 month period.

What if you fail a road test?

You have to wait at least 2 weeks before taking another one.

MREP

Massachusetts Rider Education Program is for class M license. If you take one of these you don't have to take a class M road test. If you're under 18 you have to take this.

When are you charged the road test fee?

IF you FAIL the test, if you are UNPREPARED, if your VEHICLE FAILS inspection, if you don't have QUALIFIED SPONSOR, if you DON'T COME or are late, if you CANCEL or reschedule less than 3 days notice.

Driving in MA is a...

Privilege, not a right.

What are CMVIs?

CIVIL MOTOR VEHICLE INFRACTIONS. Noncriminal violations usually settled by paying FINES. Ex. traffic signal, speeding, etc.

What happens if you don't respond to citation within 20 days?

You're found responsible, charged late fee; if you don't pay this, license will be SUSPENDED.

Parking violations

These are not civil/criminal infractions, they're managed by city or town. Can't RENEW driver's license if not paid.

Speeding violations

$105 for first 10mph over the speed limit. After that it's + $10 per mph over the 10mph.

Speeding in work zones

Speeding fine is DOUBLED.

Speeding suspensions

3 violations in 12 months, suspended 30 days. With JOL 1st offense is 90-day suspension, any more is one-year suspension.

Examples of criminal motor vehicle offenses

Driving w/suspended license, operating UNDER the influence (OUI) and leaving crash scene.

Surchargeable events

Motor vehicle violations and at-fault accidents.

THREE in a 2-year period could be SUSPENSION and retraining course.

SEVEN in 3 years = suspension for 60 days.

Main Reasons for License Suspension

If RMV thinks your driving is immediate threat; if you have improperly operated vehicle; if you have used a fake ID

Other reasons for License Suspension

Unpaid child support

Outstanding arrest/warrant

No sex offender registration

Drug trafficking

Not paid MA income tax

Bad payment to RMV

Habitual Traffic Offender suspension

3 major moving violations OR TWELVE major/minor violations in 5 years.

FOUR YEAR suspension, $500 fee.

Out-of-state suspension

Suspended in MA until out-of-state is resolved.

$100 fee.

JOL Permit Driving Without Licensed Driver

60 days FIRST offense

180 SECOND

1 year 3+ offenses

RETAKE learner's permit exam. SECOND offense requires course.

$100 fee

JOL Permit Night Restriction violation

60 days FIRST offense

180 SECOND

1 year 3+ offenses

RETAKE learner's permit exam. SECOND offense requires course.

$100 fee

JOL Permit Speeding Violation

90 days FIRST offense

1 year 2+ offenses

New learner's permit exam.

$100 fee

JOL Permit Drag Racing Violation

1 year FIRST offense, $500 fee

3 years 2+ offenses, $1000 fee

New learner's permit exam and course.

ALSO SCARR course.

JOL Permit Mobile Electronic Device Violation

60 days FIRST offense; $100 fine

180 SECOND; $250 fine

1 year 3+ offenses; $500 fine

New learner's permit exam and course.

JOL Permit Negligent Operation and Injury from Mobile Phone Use

180 days FIRST offense

1 year 2+ offenses -> NEW learner's permit exam

$500 fee

JOL License Passenger/Night Restriction violation

60 days FIRST

180 days SECOND

1 year 3+

2+ offenses requires COURSE.

3+ new permit exam and road test.

$100 fee.

JOL License Speeding Violation

90 days FIRST

1 year SECOND+

New permit exam, new course, new road test. Maybe SCARR course.

$500 fee

JOL License Drag Racing

1 year FIRST; $500 fee

3 years TWO+; $1000 fee

New permit exam, course, new road test, maybe SCARR course.

JOL License Negligent/Reckless/Endangerment Driving Violation

180 days FIRST

1 year TWO+ -> new permit test and road test.a

$500 fee

JOL License Mobile Device Violation

60 days FIRST; $100 fine, new permit exam, new course and road test.

180 days SECOND; $250 fine

1 year 3+; $500 fine

JOL License Negligence and Injury from Mobile Phone

180 days FIRST

1 year 2nd+ -> New permit exam and new road test

$500 fee

Operating with suspended/revoked license

60 days - 1 year suspension

$500 fee

Operating w/o owner authority/larceny (theft)

1-3 years suspension

$500 fee

Leaving the scene of a crash when a person is injured

1-2 years suspension

$500 fee

Leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage

60 days - 1 yr suspension

$500 fee

Operating to endanger

60 days - 1 yr suspension

$500 fee

Motor vehicle homicide

15 years - lifetime

$500 fee

Vehicular manslaughter

15 years - lifetime

$500 fee

OUI (alcohol or drugs)

1 year susp. FIRST; $500

2 year SECOND; $700

8 years THIRD; $1200

10 years FOURTH; $1200

LIFETIME FIFTH

Drug trafficking

1-5 years suspension

$100 fee

Defacing/graffiti

1 year suspension

$100 fee

Drag racing 18+

30 days - 180 days suspension

$500 - $1000 fee

Negligent Operation and Injury from Mobile Phone Use (susp)

60 days - 1 year suspension

$500 fee

Reinstating suspended/revoked license fee

Most fees $100, serious, maximum $1200

Alcohol affects...

Vision, reaction time, coordination, judgment, even small amounts.

OUI First Offense

$500-$5000 fine, 2.5 yrs prison, 1 year suspension

OUI Second Offense

$600-$10000 fine, prison (min 30 days, max 2.5 years, license suspended for 2 years

OUI third offense

felony, $1000-$15000 fine, prison (min 150 days, max 5 years), license suspended for 8 years

OUI fourth offense

felony, $1500-$25000 fine, prison (min 1 year, max 5 years), license suspended for 10 years

OUI fifth offense

felony, $2000-$50,000 fine, prison (min 2 years, max 5 years), license suspended LIFETIME

When do you fail chemical test?

0.08 Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) or greater. Underage sanctions for 0.02.

Failed chemical test over 21

30 day suspension or end of court case

Failed chemical test 18-21

30 day suspension + 180 days + course

Failed chemical test under 18

30 day suspension + 1 year + course

BAC depends on

Body weight; how much alcohol you drank; amount of food before drinking; length of time drinking; speed your body process alcohol

Each of the following drinks has same amount of alcohol

12 ounce beer;

five ounce glass wine;

1.5 ounce of 80-proof liquor

Zero tolerance law

If you are under 21 with BAC 0.02 while driving you LOSE your license

Ignition Interlock Devices

Device required if you had 2+ OUI offenses, checks BAC before starting vehicle

Refuse chemical test OVER 21 suspensions

No OUI offenses 180 days

1 prior 3 years

2 prior 5 years

3+ prior LIFETIME

Refuse chemical test 18-21 suspensions

No OUI offenses 3 years + 180 days

1 prior 3 years + 180 days

2 prior 5 years + 180 days

3+ prior LIFETIME

Refuse chemical test under 18 suspensions

No OUI offenses 3 years + 1 year

1 prior OUI 3 years + 1 year

2 prior OUI 5 years + 1 year

3+ prior LIFETIME

If under 21 and buy alcohol/possess or transport w/o parent

90 days - 1 year suspension

Open Container Law

No drinking while driving or OPEN alcoholic drink

$100 - 500 fine

Under 21 arrested, fined, suspended.

Fake ID suspensions

Up to 6 months without conviction. With conviction, 1 year suspension.

Marijuana makes you...

Slower to react, bad loss of night vision.

With prescription drugs, you can be...

considered OUI

You can't renew your license if...

Unpaid fines/parking violations

Citations for vehicle abandonment

Unpaid local excise tax

Outstanding court warrants

Unpaid E-Z Pass/Fast Lane toll

Unpaid Tobin Bridge violations

Safety belt can help...

Stop you from hitting windshield or other parts of vehicle

Stop you from being thrown out of vehicle

Helps stay seated and in control

If you are being tailgated...

move to another lane or pull to the side of the road to let them pass.

Reaction time

The time it takes you to react, think and hit the brakes.

Takes 3/4 of a second to react and step on brakes.

Stopping distances

30 mph: 104 feet stopping distance.

50 mph: 55 feet in 3/4 second, 160 feet+ before stopping. (210 feet)

60 mph: 292 feet to react and stop.

You MUST use Headlights and Taillights...

1/2 hour after sunset, 1/2 hour before sunrise

Insufficient light/weather conditions

When you use windshield wipers

Alert another driver to turn on headlights

Driving through tunnel

Hydroplaning is...

When tires ride on water and have no contact with road.

Slowly step off gas pedal, NEVER hit brakes or turn suddenly, this could cause SKIDDING.

IF skidding

TURN in the direction of the skid

When passing bicycle or moped...

Lower speed, leave lots of room, if not enough room WAIT for better chance

Your speed must be based on the following:

Traffic conditions, road conditions, weather conditions and visibility; pedestrians or bicyclists

Limited-access highways speed limits

50 - 65 mph

Smaller highways speed limits

55 mph or lower

Massachusetts Turnpike Minimum Speed

40 mph

Boston Harbor Tunnels Minimum Speed

20 mph

School zone speed limit

20 mph

Flashing red light

Same as a stop sign, a driver must come to a complete stop before the line, and then proceed only when it is safe

Flashing yellow light

Proceed with caution