Mass. Gen. Laws » Part I Title XIV Chapter 90
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 28 (2026)

Appeals and hearings

✓ current as of July 2026
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[ Text of section effective until July 1, 2025. For text effective July 1, 2025, see below.]

  Section 28. Any person aggrieved by a ruling or decision of the registrar may, within ten days thereafter, appeal from such ruling or decision to the board of appeal on motor vehicle liability policies and bonds created by section eight A of chapter twenty-six, which board may, after a hearing, order such ruling or decision to be affirmed, modified or annulled; but no such appeal shall operate to stay any ruling or decision of the registrar. In the administration of the laws and regulations relative to motor vehicles, the registrar, or any person by him authorized, may summon witnesses in behalf of the commonwealth and may administer oaths and take testimony. The board or the registrar may also cause depositions to be taken, and may order the production of books, papers, agreements and documents. Any person who swears or affirms falsely in regard to any matter or thing respecting which an oath or affirmation is required by the board or the registrar or by this chapter shall be deemed guilty of perjury. The fees for the attendance and travel of witnesses shall be the same as for witnesses in civil actions before the courts, and shall be paid by the commonwealth upon the certificate of the registrar filed with the comptroller. The supreme judicial or superior court may, upon the application of the board or the registrar, enforce all lawful orders of the board or the registrar under this section.

Chapter 90: Section 28. Appeals and hearings

[ Text of section as amended by 2025, 9, Secs. 36 and 37 effective July 1, 2025. See 2025, 9, Sec. 138. For text effective until July 1, 2025, see above.]

  Section 28. Any person aggrieved by a ruling or decision of the registrar may, within 30 days thereafter, appeal from such ruling or decision to the board of appeal on motor vehicle liability policies and bonds created by section eight A of chapter twenty-six, which board may, after a hearing or decision on written submissions, order such ruling or decision to be affirmed, modified or annulled; but no such appeal shall operate to stay any ruling or decision of the registrar. In the administration of the laws and regulations relative to motor vehicles, the registrar, or any person by him authorized, may summon witnesses in behalf of the commonwealth and may administer oaths and take testimony. The board or the registrar may also cause depositions to be taken, and may order the production of books, papers, agreements and documents. Any person who swears or affirms falsely in regard to any matter or thing respecting which an oath or affirmation is required by the board or the registrar or by this chapter shall be deemed guilty of perjury. The fees for the attendance and travel of witnesses shall be the same as for witnesses in civil actions before the courts, and shall be paid by the commonwealth upon the certificate of the registrar filed with the comptroller. The supreme judicial or superior court may, upon the application of the board or the registrar, enforce all lawful orders of the board or the registrar under this section.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 24 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1949–2024 · leading case: Registrar of Motor Vehs. v. Bd. of Appeal on Motor Veh. Liab. Policies & Bonds, 416 N.E.2d 1373 (Mass. 1981).
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Registrar of Motor Vehs. v. Bd. of Appeal on Motor Veh. Liab. Policies & Bonds, 416 N.E.2d 1373 (Mass. 1981). · cites it 8× “When the licensee appealed to the board under G. L. c. 90, § 28, 1 the board annulled the revocation and ordered the registrar to reinstate the license.”
Montrym v. Panora, 429 F. Supp. 393 (D. Mass. 1977). · cites it 8× “On June 7, 1976, plaintiff's attorney wrote the Board of Appeal on Motor Vehicle Liability Policies and Bonds for a hearing pursuant to M.G.L. c. 90 § 28, [8] stating *396 that he had not refused to submit to a breathalyzer test within the meaning of M.”
Almeida v. Lucey, 372 F. Supp. 109 (D. Mass. 1974). · cites it 4× “M.G.L. c. 90, § 28. The appeal does not operate as a stay of the registrar's decision.”
Pollard v. Panora, 411 F. Supp. 580 (D. Mass. 1976). · cites it 3× “Neither Pollard nor Mickevich appealed the license suspensions to the board of appeal on motor vehicle liability policies and bonds as set down in Mass. Gen.L. c. 90, § 28. C. The Statutory Scheme.”
Breslin v. Bd. of Appeal on Motor Veh. Liab. Policies & Bonds, 872 N.E.2d 1182 (Mass. App. Ct. 2007). · cites it 2× “He appealed to the Board of Appeal on Motor Vehicle Liability Policies and Bonds (board) pursuant to G. L. c. 90, § 28. The board affirmed the registrar’s revocation in November, 2005.”
DiGregorio v. Registrar of Motor Vehs., 942 N.E.2d 998 (Mass. App. Ct. 2011). “Applications for a hardship license are to be filed with the registrar, and the applicant “shall be granted a hearing before the registrar.”
Callahan v. Bd. of Appeal on Motor Veh. Liab. Polices & Bonds, 57 N.E.3d 1059 (Mass. App. Ct. 2016). “90, § 24(l)(c)(4), and whether the board should exercise discretion to modify the registrar’s decision, pursuant to G. L. c. 90, § 28. After a remand hearing and a period of nearly one year when the case remained under advisement, two members of the three-member panel issued an…”
Boyle v. Registrar of Motor Vehs., 331 N.E.2d 52 (Mass. 1975). “Moreover, while the Registrar is given no discretion and must revoke the driver’s license of one who is convicted in a District Court, the Registrar’s decision is subject to appeal to a board of appeal under G. L. c. 90, § 28. The board’s decisions are subject to judicial review…”
Marshall v. Registrar of Motor Vehs., 87 N.E.2d 7 (Mass. 1949). “In this petition for a writ of certiorari against the registrar of motor vehicles and the commissioner of public works it is alleged that the petitioner applied to the registrar on October 20, 1948, for a reissuance of her license to operate motor vehicles which had been…”
Longo v. Bd. of Appeal on Motor Veh. Liab. Policies & Bonds, 247 N.E.2d 553 (Mass. 1969). “” The appeal to the board provided by G. L. c. 90, § 28 (as amended by St. 1950, c.”
Gilmore v. Registrar of Motor Vehs., 492 N.E.2d 374 (Mass. App. Ct. 1986). “The plaintiff sought review by the Board of Appeal on Motor Vehicle Liability Policies and Bonds; see G. L. c. 90, § 28. On August 28, 1985, the board affirmed the Registrar’s action, and on September 30, 1985, the plaintiff commenced the present action in Superior Court, see G.”
Andonian v. Registrar of Motor Vehs., 558 N.E.2d 1005 (Mass. App. Ct. 1990). “Gilmore v. Registrar of Motor Vehicles, 22 Mass.”
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