I was stopped because of a burnt out headlight and was given a citation. I have been told by several people that I should have been given a warning and so many days to repair the light. What is the law in Massachusetts regarding this issue?
-- Aline, Spencer
Sorry, Aline, but Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90C, Section 3(A)(1) gives police officers discretion on the question of citation vs. warning. That statute, and the discretion it confers, was upheld by an appeals court in 2005.
In 2003, the Boston Globe ran an interesting article discussing this issue (www.boston.com/globe/metro/packages/tickets/072103.shtml). Among other things, the Globe correspondents found that the rate of citation (vs. warning) varied widely from one community to another and from one officer to another. Some officers, for example, never give tickets to pregnant women or soldiers, while others base their decision on the attitude of the driver.
(Submitted by the Editor)
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