Boston Traffic Court Records

Boston traffic court records cover cases filed across the Boston Municipal Court system, which has eight divisions serving different neighborhoods. Boston is the largest city in Massachusetts with roughly 673,000 residents, and traffic cases here can range from a simple speeding ticket to a criminal OUI charge depending on what happened and where.

Boston Municipal Court: 8 Divisions

Boston uses the Boston Municipal Court (BMC) system rather than a single District Court. The BMC has eight separate divisions, each covering a specific part of the city. Traffic tickets go to the division that covers the neighborhood where the violation happened. This is different from most other cities in Massachusetts, where one District Court handles all traffic cases for that city.

Here are the eight BMC divisions and their addresses:

If you are not sure which division handles your ticket, look at the citation itself. The division name should appear on the ticket. You can also call the Central Division at (617) 788-8600 and they can direct you to the right location. Getting to the wrong division can delay your hearing, so it pays to check before you show up.

The BMC website lists all court locations with hours and contact details. Visit the BMC all locations page for the full list. Most divisions are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, but hours can vary by location.

The Suffolk District Attorney's office handles criminal traffic prosecution at all eight BMC divisions. For civil infractions, there is no DA involvement. The distinction matters if your case involves an OUI, reckless driving, or leaving the scene of an accident.

How to Search Boston Traffic Court Records

MassCourts is the free online case search tool for the state court system. It covers all eight BMC divisions. You can search by name, case number, or docket number. The system shows case status, charges, hearing dates, and docket entries. It does not show the full court file, but it gives you enough to know what a case contains and where things stand.

Go to masscourts.org to start a search. Select the Boston Municipal Court from the court list. Then enter the name of the person whose record you want. You can narrow results by date range if the name is common. The system is free and does not require you to create an account.

The Massachusetts courts also explain how to search court dockets step by step. See how to search court dockets on mass.gov. That page covers what each field means and what kinds of records show up in search results.

For in-person access, go to the clerk's office at the relevant BMC division. Bring a photo ID. Clerks can pull up a case by name or number and provide copies of records. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. The BMC and District Court filing fees page has the current copy fee schedule.

The state court system home page at mass.gov courts is a good starting point if you are unfamiliar with how the courts are organized. From there you can find links to each court division and get directions, hours, and contact numbers.

The screen below shows the BMC court locations listing, which helps you identify the right division before you search or visit in person.

The BMC locations page on mass.gov lists all eight divisions with addresses and contact info.

Use this page to confirm the address and hours for the division that handles your neighborhood before going in person.

Paying or Fighting a Traffic Ticket in Boston

When you get a civil traffic ticket in Boston, you have three options: pay the fine, request a clerk-magistrate hearing, or ignore it (which is not recommended). The ticket is a Civil Motor Vehicle Infraction (CMVI) under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90C. You must respond within 20 days of the ticket date.

Paying the fine means you admit the violation. Points go on your driving record under the Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP). Those points can raise your car insurance rates for several years. If you want to contest the ticket, ask for a clerk hearing instead.

A clerk-magistrate hearing costs $25. It is a low-pressure, informal review. You appear before a clerk, not a judge. You explain your side and the clerk weighs the evidence. If the officer does not show up, the ticket is usually dismissed. If you lose at the clerk level, you can appeal to a judge for a $50 fee. At that level the officer must appear. If the officer is absent, the ticket is dismissed again. More info on the process is at appeal your traffic ticket on mass.gov.

You can also pay your ticket online. The state payment portal at pay your traffic ticket on mass.gov walks you through the steps. You will need the citation number from your ticket.

The image below shows the court filing fees page, which covers hearing fees, copy costs, and related charges at the BMC.

The BMC filing fees page lists the $25 clerk hearing fee, the $50 judge appeal fee, and copy costs for records.

Keep this fee schedule handy if you plan to request records or contest a ticket in any BMC division.

Criminal Traffic Cases in Boston

Some traffic violations in Boston are criminal offenses, not just civil infractions. These go to the BMC as criminal cases. The most common are OUI (operating under the influence), reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, and leaving the scene of an accident. Criminal cases create a different type of court record than a CMVI ticket.

OUI in Massachusetts is covered under MGL Chapter 90, Section 24. A first offense can result in fines, license suspension, and possible jail time. A second offense carries mandatory jail time and a longer suspension. These cases are prosecuted by the Suffolk DA at the relevant BMC division.

For a first OUI offense, the court may offer a 24D disposition, which lets you enter an alcohol education program in exchange for a reduced penalty. That program is covered under a separate statute. Completing the program does not erase the charge from your record but can limit the license suspension. The what to expect at a traffic ticket hearing page on mass.gov gives background on how hearings work, though criminal cases involve more steps than civil ones.

Speed limit violations in Boston fall under MGL Chapter 90, Section 17. The state speed limit law sets default limits and allows local variation. Boston enforces speed limits actively, particularly in school zones where fines are doubled.

The screen below shows the hearing expectations guide on mass.gov, which explains what to bring, what happens in the room, and how the clerk or judge reviews a case.

The traffic ticket hearing guide on mass.gov covers both clerk hearings and judge appeals step by step.

Read this guide before your hearing date so you know exactly what to expect when you walk in.

Specialty Courts at BMC Divisions

Several BMC divisions run specialty courts that handle cases involving underlying issues like substance use or mental health. These programs do not replace the traffic court process, but they can affect the outcome of related criminal cases. If your traffic case involves an OUI or drug charge, you may qualify for one of these programs.

The Central BMC division has a Veterans Court. The Roxbury and West Roxbury divisions have Mental Health Courts. Drug Courts operate at the Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, and Chelsea locations. A Homeless Court runs at the West Roxbury Division. More on these programs is at specialty courts on mass.gov.

The Central Division also handles the largest share of serious criminal traffic cases because it covers downtown Boston, the Financial District, and the Government Center area. If your violation happened in the central city, your case is likely at 24 New Chardon St.

The image below shows the East Boston Division, one of the eight BMC locations handling traffic cases in that part of the city.

The East Boston Division page on mass.gov has the address, phone number, and hours for that location.

Each BMC division has its own clerk's office where you can request records, pay fines, or ask about hearing dates.

Boston Parking Tickets vs. Traffic Court

Boston parking tickets go through a separate city system, not the state traffic court. The City of Boston Parking Clerk handles parking appeals. This is different from moving violations, which go to the BMC. If you got a parking ticket in Boston, the appeals process is at boston.gov parking ticket appeal.

Moving violations like speeding, running a red light, or failing to yield go through the state CMVI process described above. Parking tickets issued by city meter maids or Boston Police do not create court records in the same way. Unpaid parking tickets can still lead to a boot on your car or suspension of your registration, so they are worth dealing with promptly.

The South Boston Division of the BMC serves the South Boston neighborhood, which sees heavy traffic especially near the waterfront and the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. The image below shows the South Boston Division location.

The South Boston Division page on mass.gov provides contact details and directions for that courthouse.

Cases from the South Boston waterfront and downtown crossing areas are typically heard at either the Central or South Boston BMC division.

Driving Records and the RMV

Every traffic conviction in Boston goes on your Massachusetts driving record through the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). The Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP) assigns points based on the type of violation. More points mean higher insurance rates. Minor violations add fewer points than serious ones like OUI or leaving the scene.

You can request a copy of your driving record from the RMV. The request a driving record page on mass.gov explains how to get your record online or by mail. There is a fee for official copies. A certified driving record may be needed for court, insurance purposes, or an employer background check.

If you complete a driver retraining program after a conviction, your insurance surcharge may be reduced. The driver attitudinal retraining course page explains who qualifies and how to enroll. The program is typically required or offered as an option after certain violations.

Crash reports from accidents in Boston are filed through the Massachusetts State Police or Boston Police. If you need a copy of a crash report for a case, insurance claim, or record request, see request a copy of a police crash report on mass.gov.

BMC Division Screenshots

The images below show several additional BMC divisions that handle traffic cases across Boston neighborhoods.

The Brighton Division serves the Brighton and Allston neighborhoods.

The Brighton Division at 52 Academy Hill Rd handles traffic cases from that side of Boston.

The Charlestown Division covers the Charlestown neighborhood and runs a Drug Court program.

Charlestown sees heavy traffic near the Tobin Bridge approach and along Route 99.

The Dorchester Division at 510 Washington St serves one of Boston's largest neighborhoods.

Dorchester has some of the highest traffic enforcement activity in the city, particularly along Blue Hill Avenue and Gallivan Boulevard.

The Roxbury Division handles cases from the Roxbury and Mission Hill neighborhoods.

Route 9 and Washington Street through Roxbury are among the busiest corridors covered by this division.

The West Roxbury Division at 445 Arborway in Jamaica Plain covers West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, and Roslindale.

This division runs both a Mental Health Court and a Homeless Court in addition to standard traffic case processing.

Suffolk County Traffic Court Records

Boston is the county seat of Suffolk County. All BMC traffic cases are part of the Suffolk County court system. For county-level information on courts, resources, and records access, see the Suffolk County page.

View Suffolk County Traffic Court Records

Nearby Cities

These nearby cities also have traffic court record pages:

• Cambridge
• Somerville
• Medford
• Malden
• Everett
• Revere
• Quincy
• Brookline