Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 22A (2026)

Suspension of operator's license or registration certificates, unsatisfied judgment; reinstatement of license

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 22A. The registrar, after hearing, shall suspend any license to operate motor vehicles issued to a judgment debtor in an action brought to recover damages for injury to property arising out of the use, operation or maintenance on the ways of the commonwealth of a motor vehicle or trailer; or, if the judgment debtor is a partnership, a trust, or a corporation, shall suspend all certificates of registration issued to it under this chapter, if within sixty days after a finding by a court and notification to the registrar by the clerk of court that a judgment has been entered against the judgment debtor in said action, and that the judgment debtor has willfully and intentionally failed to pay an order or orders consistent with the provisions of chapter two hundred and twenty-four.

This section shall not apply in any case if the registrar is satisfied as aforesaid that the judgment debtor was, at the time such injury occurred, insured against loss or damage on account of his legal liability for such injury by or under a policy of insurance issued by an insurance company duly authorized to transact business in the commonwealth under chapter one hundred and seventy-five, to the amount or limit of at least five thousand dollars. Nor shall this section apply in the case of a judgment rendered in an action brought to recover damages for death or bodily injuries as well as damages for such injury to property, unless a separate finding or verdict for such property damages has been entered or returned in such action, in which case the amount of damages so awarded shall, for the purposes of this section, be deemed the amount of the judgment. The registrar shall not impose such suspension if he is satisfied that indemnity against such judgment will be furnished by the judgment debtor to the commonwealth, or a city or town under section one hundred A of chapter forty-one.

If a judgment debtor satisfies the clerk of the court in which the order was issued that said judgment debtor is unable to locate the judgment creditor or his legal representative, he shall deposit with such clerk the full amount of the order or orders and said clerk shall give him a receipt therefor reciting such facts. Upon presentation to the registrar, such receipt shall be evidence of satisfaction, release, or discharge of the obligation under any such order.

If the license of a judgement debtor has been suspended pursuant to this section, the judgement debtor may apply to the registrar for reinstatement of the license. The registrar shall reinstate the license if the judgement debtor has satisfied the judgement, made a deposit with the clerk of the court for the amount of the judgement, or has not willfully or intentionally failed to comply with the provisions of chapter two hundred and twenty-four.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 5 cases, 1968–2011 · leading case: MacQuarrie v. McLaughlin, 294 F. Supp. 176 (D. Mass. 1968).

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MacQuarrie v. McLaughlin, 294 F. Supp. 176 (D. Mass. 1968). · cites it 3× “G.L. c. 90 § 22A, as amended, the provisions of which appear in the appendix hereto.”

In Re Beckett, 455 B.R. 9 (Bankr. D. Mass. 2011). “Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 22A (2001) (emphasis added) (“Section 22A”).”

Ross v. Gunaris, 395 F. Supp. 623 (D. Mass. 1975). “G.L. c. 90 § 22A. 1 Plaintiff, on behalf of himself and others similarly situated, seeks injunctive and declaratory relief against the operation of section 22A on the grounds that it denies equal protection of the law to those financially unable to satisfy in full a property…”

Brasel v. Corbeil, 41 Mass. App. Dec. 70 (Mass. Dist. Ct., App. Div. 1969). · cites it 4× “G.L. c. 90, § 22A, to which the judge referred, provides in part, that the registrar of motor vehicles on satisfactory evidence shall suspend the license of any operator of a motor vehicle who fails “for sixty days after the rendition thereof, to satisfy in full a judgment” for…”

Young v. Bd. of Appeal on Motor Veh. Policies & Bonds, 1 Mass. L. Rptr. 581 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1993). · cites it 2× “1975) (discussing a similar statute, G.L.c. 90, §22A). Young’s contention that he did not receive notice of the Illinois hearing is not a constitutional challenge to the Illinois statute.”

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