Search Boston Traffic Ticket Records
Boston traffic ticket records cover civil motor vehicle infractions issued anywhere in the city, from downtown to Dorchester to Jamaica Plain. Because Boston has eight Boston Municipal Court divisions, the court that handles your ticket depends on where the stop happened. This page walks through how the system works, what your options are, and where to go for your hearing or to look up a past citation.
Boston Quick Facts
Boston Municipal Court Divisions
Boston is unique in Massachusetts because it has its own court system: the Boston Municipal Court, or BMC. No other city in the state has this. When you get a traffic ticket in Boston, it goes to the BMC division that covers the neighborhood where the stop occurred. There are eight divisions in total. Knowing which one handles your case saves time when you call to schedule a hearing or ask about your citation.
The Central Division handles tickets from Downtown Boston, Chinatown, the North End, and the South End. It sits at 24 New Chardon Street in the Edward W. Brooke Courthouse, right near Government Center. This is the largest of the eight divisions and the one most Boston residents deal with. You can reach the Central Division at (617) 788-8600. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
The Central Division BMC is the main hub for traffic citation hearings in the city. The MBTA Blue Line stops at Bowdoin, and the Orange Line stops at Haymarket, both within a short walk. If you drive, paid garages are nearby but can be pricey. Taking the T is easier.
The other seven BMC divisions and their main contact numbers are:
- Brighton Division: (617) 782-6540
- Charlestown Division: (617) 242-5400
- Dorchester Division: (617) 288-9500
- East Boston Division: (617) 569-7550
- Roxbury Division: (617) 427-7000
- South Boston Division: (617) 268-9292
- West Roxbury / Jamaica Plain Division: (617) 971-1200
If you are not sure which division covers your ticket, check the citation itself. The court name and address are printed on the front. You can also look up your case on MassCourts, the state's free online records system. Search by your name or the citation number to find the right court location.
| Court | Boston Municipal Court - Central Division |
|---|---|
| Address | 24 New Chardon Street, Edward W. Brooke Courthouse, Boston, MA 02114 |
| Phone | (617) 788-8600 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Transit | MBTA Blue Line (Bowdoin), Orange Line (Haymarket) |
| Court Locator | mass.gov - Boston Municipal Court |
The Boston Municipal Court also runs several special programs that can affect traffic cases involving other charges. The Mental Health Court and Veterans' Treatment Court operate out of the Central Division. The Court Service Center on the second floor of the Brooke Courthouse can help you navigate the system, fill out forms, and understand your options without giving legal advice.
The Central Division is shown in the screenshot below.
The Brooke Courthouse houses the Central BMC Division and is the most commonly used location for traffic citation hearings in downtown Boston.
How to Respond to a Boston Traffic Ticket
You have 20 days from the date of the citation to respond. That deadline is printed on your ticket. If you miss it, the Registry of Motor Vehicles can mark the ticket as a default, which can lead to a license suspension. Do not ignore the ticket. Even if you plan to pay, you need to act within that window.
There are three ways to respond. First, you can pay the fine online, by mail, or at the RMV. Go to mass.gov to pay your traffic ticket. Paying means you accept the violation, and it will show on your driving record as a surchargeable event. Your insurance rates may go up. Second, you can request a Clerk-Magistrate Hearing. This is a $25 fee and is informal. The issuing officer often does not attend. Third, you can appeal directly to a judge for $50. If the officer does not show at either type of hearing, the case is typically dismissed.
Most people who contest tickets in Boston start with the Clerk-Magistrate Hearing. It is less formal than a judge's hearing and gives you a real chance to tell your side of the story. You can still appeal to a judge if you lose at the clerk level. Full instructions are on the traffic ticket appeal page at mass.gov. The hearing overview page explains what each step looks like.
Boston Police Department handles most traffic enforcement in the city. Their main office is at 1 Schroeder Plaza, Boston, MA 02120, reachable at (617) 343-4200. If you have questions about who issued a specific citation, start there.
Boston Traffic Fines and Surcharges
Massachusetts sets fine amounts through state law. Fines do not vary by city. Speeding 1 to 10 mph over the limit costs $50. Going 11 or more mph over costs $50 plus $10 for each extra mph. There is also a $50 Head Injury Trust Fund surcharge added to all speeding tickets under state law. So a ticket for going 20 mph over the limit costs more than most people expect when they add it all up.
Hands-free law violations have their own fine structure. The law took effect February 23, 2020. A first offense costs $100. A second costs $250. A third and any after that cost $500 each. These violations are also surchargeable. You can see the full list of surchargeable incidents at mass.gov.
Three speeding tickets within a 12-month period triggers a 30-day license suspension under MGL c. 90, section 20. If you rack up enough violations to be labeled a habitual offender under MGL c. 90, section 22F, the suspension extends to four years. Driving on a suspended license in Boston brings its own separate charge. Keeping track of your record is worth doing. You can get an unattested driving record for $8 online or an attested copy for $20 through the RMV driving record request page. The myRMV portal is the fastest way to get it online.
Parking Tickets Are Different
Boston parking tickets are not the same as traffic ticket records. They are separate.
A parking ticket in Boston is issued by city officers and paid to the City of Boston, not through the RMV or the courts. You pay parking tickets through the Boston Parking Clerk's office, reachable at (617) 635-3888. These tickets do not appear on your driving record and do not affect your insurance. They are a city fine, not a state one.
Traffic tickets, on the other hand, are civil motor vehicle infractions issued under state law. These go through the Massachusetts court system and the RMV. They can affect your driving record and insurance premiums. The distinction matters. If you received a ticket for a moving violation like speeding or running a red light, that is a traffic ticket handled through the state system. If you got a ticket for parking in a fire lane or an expired meter, that goes through the city.
Look Up Boston Traffic Citations Online
The fastest way to look up a Boston traffic citation is through MassCourts. You can search by name or case number. The system shows the court assigned to the case, the docket entries, and current status. It covers all BMC divisions. This is a free public tool and works well for checking whether a case is still open, has been paid, or has been dismissed.
The traffic tickets overview at mass.gov is also a good starting point. It covers the full state system, how citations work, and links to pay or appeal. If you are searching for older records, in-person requests at the relevant BMC division may be needed. The clerk's office at each division keeps its own docket. Bring the citation number if you have it, or the name on the ticket and approximate date.
For driving record requests, use the myRMV online portal. This shows all violations on file with the RMV, not just court records. An unattested copy runs $8 online. Attested copies for legal purposes cost $20 and can be requested through the RMV directly.
Suffolk County Traffic Ticket Records
Boston is the county seat of Suffolk County. All traffic ticket hearings in the city run through one of the eight Boston Municipal Court divisions, which operate within the Suffolk County court system. For a broader look at how traffic citations are processed in Suffolk County, including courts serving Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, visit the Suffolk County page.