Nantucket County Traffic Ticket Records
Nantucket County traffic ticket records are handled entirely by the Nantucket District Court at 16 Broad Street. The county consists of a single island 30 miles off Cape Cod, with one court that handles every civil motor vehicle infraction, criminal case, and superior court matter on the island. If you received a ticket anywhere on Nantucket, your traffic ticket record is at this courthouse.
Nantucket County Overview
Nantucket District Court
The Nantucket District Court is at 16 Broad Street, Nantucket, MA 02554. Phone: (508) 228-0460. This is the only court on the island. It handles all civil motor vehicle infractions for the town of Nantucket, which makes up the entire county. The Nantucket County Superior Court shares the same address and phone number. Whether your matter is a standard traffic ticket or a more serious charge, the courthouse at 16 Broad Street is the one facility handling it.
Nantucket is a small island, but its road traffic tells a different story in summer. The year-round population of roughly 14,000 expands dramatically from June through August when vacationers arrive by ferry from Hyannis and by private plane into Nantucket Memorial Airport. The island's narrow roads, roundabouts, and intersections near the ferry dock create heavy congestion. The Nantucket Police Department actively enforces traffic laws throughout the island, with heightened activity during peak summer weeks.
Common violations on Nantucket include speeding on Milestone Road (the main road running east across the island), cell phone use, and failure to stop at crosswalks. Cyclists, mopeds, and pedestrians share the roads with cars, which makes the enforcement environment different from mainland communities. Officers issue civil motor vehicle infractions for a range of violations, and all of those records end up at the Broad Street courthouse.
The Nantucket District Court page has current contact details, hours, and location information.
Every traffic violation issued on Nantucket, from a speeding citation on Milestone Road to a cell phone ticket in the ferry landing area, becomes a record at this single courthouse on Broad Street.
| Court | Nantucket District Court / Nantucket County Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 16 Broad Street, Nantucket, MA 02554 |
| Phone | (508) 228-0460 |
| Serves | Nantucket (entire island and county) |
How to Appeal a Nantucket Traffic Ticket from the Mainland
Most people who get a ticket on Nantucket are visitors who return to the mainland before the citation even appears in the court system. That does not pause the 20-day response clock. You have 20 days from the date printed on the ticket to act. If you do nothing, the court enters a default, and your license can be suspended.
Your three choices are to pay the fine, request a Clerk-Magistrate hearing ($25 fee), or request a judge hearing ($50 fee). You do not need to travel back to the island to use these options. Online payment is handled through the state's pay your traffic ticket page. Hearing requests can be submitted by mail or in writing to the Nantucket District Court at 16 Broad Street. The appeal your ticket page explains the process step by step.
At a Clerk-Magistrate hearing, the officer frequently does not appear. When that happens, the ticket is often dismissed. At a judge hearing, the officer is required to attend. If the officer fails to show at a judge hearing, the case is typically dismissed. Both options give you a real chance to contest the citation without the case going to a default. The state's hearing expectations page covers what each type of hearing involves. Act within the 20-day window and keep a record of everything you send to the court.
To look up your citation, use MassCourts, the state's free public case search. Search by name or case number. The system shows the court, case status, and any hearing dates. New tickets typically appear within a few days of the citation being filed. The Massachusetts traffic tickets overview is a good reference for first-time recipients of a Massachusetts citation.
The Massachusetts Traffic Ticket Appeal Process
Massachusetts lets drivers contest any civil motor vehicle infraction through a two-step hearing process. Understanding your options before you respond saves time and may lead to a better outcome than simply paying the fine.
The state's appeal process page covers both the clerk hearing and judge hearing options, including how to request them and what to expect.
Nantucket visitors who want to contest a ticket from home can follow the same appeal steps as any other Massachusetts driver. The island location of the court does not restrict your ability to respond remotely.
Fines, Surcharges, and Driving Record Impact
Massachusetts traffic fines are set at the state level and apply uniformly across all counties, including Nantucket. Speeding 1 to 10 mph over the limit costs $50. Going 11 or more mph over costs $50 plus $10 for each additional mph. A mandatory $50 Head Injury Assessment surcharge is added to every ticket and cannot be waived. A basic speeding fine comes to at least $100 once the surcharge is included.
The hands-free phone law has been in effect since February 23, 2020. First offense: $100. Second: $250. Third and later: $500 each. Three speeding tickets within 12 months triggers a 30-day suspension under MGL c. 90, section 20. Four qualifying convictions can result in a four-year suspension as a habitual offender under MGL c. 90, section 22F. The multiple offense page has the full details. All traffic statutes are in MGL Chapter 90.
Massachusetts shares traffic conviction data with other states through the Driver License Compact. If you live out of state and got a ticket on Nantucket, that conviction can appear on your home state driving record. Paying or defaulting on a Nantucket ticket is not a way to avoid points or surcharges on your license. The surchargeable incidents list shows which violations affect insurance rates. You can order your Massachusetts driving record through the RMV driving record page for $8 (unattested) or $20 (attested).
Cities in Nantucket County
Nantucket County consists of a single town: Nantucket. The town does not meet the population threshold for a dedicated page. For traffic ticket records, use the Nantucket District Court information above or search MassCourts directly.
Nearby Counties
Nantucket is 30 miles off Cape Cod with no road connection to the mainland. Barnstable County on the Cape is the nearest county.