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How to Pay or Appeal a Citation

Upon issuing the citation, the officer will select one of the following boxes appearing on the face of the citation:

1. All Civil Infractions

2. Criminal Complaint

3. Arrest

4. Warning

1. All Civil Infractions: All of the violations with which you are charged are civil infractions.

A. Payment: You must, within twenty (20) days of the date of the citation, mark Box 1 on the reverse side of the citation, sign where indicated, and mail the "total due" in the envelope provided. Payment is the final disposition of the citation and you waive your right to a civil hearing before a court magistrate. Payment is an admission of responsibility for all infractions and purposes of the Safe Driver Insurance Plan and any Registry action under the law. Such payment is not an admission of guilt, responsibility or negligence in any other criminal or civil proceeding.

To Pay By Mail: Make check or money order payable to: "Registry of Motor Vehicles." Write the citation number, your driver license number and state of issue on your payment. Do not mail cash.

Please remember to check off the PAYMENT box on the front of the envelope that the police officer provided and mail to the following address:

CITATION PROCESSING CENTER
BOX 199125
BOSTON, MA 02119-9125

To Pay By Internet: Access the Registry at http:/www.massrmv.com and have your citation number and MasterCard, Discover Card, or Visa ready.

To Pay By Phone: Telephone 617-351-4500 or 800-858-3926 between the hours of 9 AM through 7 PM, Monday through Friday.

B. Request a Court Hearing: You must, within twenty (20) days of the date of the citation, mark Box 2 on the reverse side of the citation, sign where indicated, and mail the citation in the envelope provided. You will be notified of the date and time of your court hearing by mail. The notice will be sent to the address appearing on the front of the citation. Please enter your correct address on the front of the envelope provided by the officer. Also, remember to check the HEARING REQUEST box on the front of the envelope. Place the citation in the envelope provided and mail to:

CITATION PROCESSING CENTER
BOX 199125
BOSTON, MA 02119-9125

2. Criminal Application. If this box is checked, one or more of the violations is a criminal offense. You will be granted a clerk-magistrate hearing as to whether a criminal complaint should be issued against you if you sign where indicated and return the citation within four (4) days to the court named on the front of the citation. Make sure you provide a correct address. The court jurisdiction for the Town of Swampscott is as follows:

CLERK-MAGISTRATE
LYNN DISTRICT COURT
580 ESSEX ST
LYNN, MA 01901
 

Any accompanying civil infractions will be determined during the criminal proceedings and cannot be paid in advance.

3. Arrest. If this box is checked, you will have been arrested and taken into custody. You will have been released from custody by a clerk-magistrate and provided with the date to appear in court, or, if not released, you will have been brought to court and arraigned on the charges.

If you are unsure of the date you are to appear in court, please contact the Lynn Division of the District Court at 781-598-5200.