Massachusetts Driver Licensing Laws

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State	Massachusetts
Seizure-Free Period	6 months
Periodic Medical Updates Required After Licensing	At discretion of DMV
Doctors Required to Report Epilepsy	No
DMV Appeal of License Denial	Within 14 days

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Driver's License

An individual with epilepsy will be considered eligible for a driver's license if he or she has been seizure free for 6 months and submits a detailed physician's report and recommendation that he or she may drive safely [MASS. GEN. LAWS ANN. ch. 90, §22]. The individual may be required to submit periodic medical reports. The certifying neurologist has no explicit immunity from liability for damages arising out of an accident caused by a seizure. A licensee must be given 14 days notice before his/her license may be suspended or revoked [MASS. GEN. LAWS ANN. ch. 90 § 22 (b)]. The licensee then has 14 days after the date of such notice within which to request a hearing with the registrar of Motor Vehicles about the reason(s) for the revocation or suspension [§ 22 (b)]. Any decision of the registrar to revoke, suspend, or deny a license may be appealed to the motor vehicle liability policies appeals board within ten days.

Commercial Driving

Massachusetts has adopted the Department of Transportation's medical standards for licensing individuals to drive commercial motor vehicles intrastate and the driver must carry a valid medical certificate. An individual who has a current diagnosis of epilepsy is not eligible to receive a certificate or license to operate a school bus, but an individual without a current epilepsy diagnosis is eligible, but may be subject to review by the Medical Board.

Identification Card

Anyone 18 years or older who does not have a valid driver's license may obtain an identification card through the Registry of Motor Vehicles for a $15.00 fee.

Reporting

There is no provision requiring physicians to report to a central agency patients who have been treated for or diagnosed as having epilepsy.

©2008 Epilepsy Foundation. All rights reserved. This summary was developed for information purposes by the Epilepsy Foundation's Legal and Government Affairs Department and reflects data available as of November 2008. Information may not be complete and is subject to change. This summary is not a substitute for legal advice. For further information, consult your state Department of Motor Vehicles.