Allowing/ Employing a Person Without a Valid License to Operate a Motor Vehicle

In Massachusetts, under MGL c. 90 s. 12, you are responsible for who you allow to operate your motor vehicle. If you knowingly allow a person without a valid license to operate a motor vehicle that you either own or are in control of, you can be prosecuted. However, in order to be convicted for any of the following offenses, the prosecution must prove that you KNEW the person did not have a valid license, or that their operation of your motor vehicle was against the law. If your car is not equipped with an ignition interlock device and the person operating your car is subject to that restriction, the prosecution can offer evidence that you’ve either seen the person use the device in another car or that you had knowledge of their OUI convictions and allowed them to operate your car anyways.

Allowing a Person Without a Valid License to Operate a Motor Vehicle carries the following potential penalties

• $1,000 fine
• 1 year in jail
• 1 year loss of license
• 1 year suspension of vehicle registration

A subsequent conviction for this offense carries the following potential penalties

• $1,000 fine (minimum) up to $1,500 fine
• 2 1/2 years in jail
• 1 year loss of license
• 1 year suspension of vehicle registration

Employing an Unlicensed Motor Vehicle Operator carries the following potential penalties

• $1,000 fine
• 1 year loss of license
• 1 year suspension of vehicle registration

A subsequent conviction for this offense carries the following potential penalties

• $1,000 fine (minimum) up to $1,500 fine
• 1 year in jail
• 1 year loss of license
• 1 year suspension of vehicle registration

Permitting a Person with Ignition Interlock Restriction to Operate a Motor Vehicle Without the Device carries the following potential penalties

• $500 fine
• 1 year in jail
• 1 year license loss
• 1 year suspension of vehicle registration

A subsequent conviction for this offense carries the following potential penalties

• $1,000 fine
• 2 1/2 years in jail
• 1 year license loss
• 1 year suspension of vehicle registration

Please click here for further details about this charge on our sister website, massduidefenselawyer.com, which is dedicated exclusively to motor vehicle crimes.

If you have been charged with allowing a person without a valid license to operate your motor vehicle, contact our office immediately: (617) 830-2188