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Chief’s Corner
By
Chief Steven J. Wojnar
Dudley Police Department
I was recently asked for information
about false motor vehicle inspection stickers. The person questioned a
charge of falsely attaching an inspection sticker to a vehicle. What
are the penalties if caught with one of these stickers?
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90 section 24B is the
section for false driver's licenses, permits, stickers, etc. It covers
the violations of making, stealing, altering, forging, and
counterfeiting numerous items issued by the Registry, including
inspection stickers, as well as procuring or assisting another person to
do the same. Since a failure to have your vehicle inspected carries a
fifty-dollar civil infraction, many people believe having a false
sticker would call for a similar punishment. Something which would
appear so simple is quite the contrary. A violation of this law is a
felony. It calls for a fine up to five hundred dollars or a prison
sentence for up to five years. In addition, a conviction is reported to
the Registry and a person's right to operate can be suspended for at
least one year.
Anyone engaging in this activity is assuming a huge risk.
The penalties encourage people to comply with the proper procedures for
motor vehicle use. Do not take a chance when it comes to these
violations. The investment in having your vehicle work properly is money
well spent. It is certainly better than risking the chance of a serious
penalty.
I wish to thank AAA for a recent traffic safety award. Town
Administrator Peter Jankowski and I accepted an award on behalf of the
community on Monday, October 30th for at least 10 years without a
pedestrian fatality. Our community, and several others from Worcester
County, was given this award during a ceremony at the Beechwood Inn.
This is one of those awards we are glad to receive and I thank AAA for
their recognition of this achievement.
Thanks again for your questions and comments. Please send them to me at
the Dudley Police Department 71 West Main St. Dudley, Ma. 01571 or email
at
swojnar@dudleypolice.com.
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