Massachusetts Criminal Lawyer Blog
On January 21, 2026, AM, a 28 year old Indian Resident Alien, was stopped by the State Police on Route 93N in Andover. He did not have a license (criminal offense); his car was unregistered (criminal offense); he did not have an inspection sticker and he was missing a plate (both civil infractions). AM was issued a citation for the four offenses and a clerk-magistrate hearing in Lawrence District Court was set up for April 22, 2026. AM was smart. He immediately got the car registered; he immediately got the plates attached; and he immediately got an inspection sticker. He had a license from India, but that is no good in the US. He was slow in making the attempts to get a license. AM consulted with and retained Attorney Robert Lewin from Andover (two days before the hearing date!). Attorney Lewin had AM email to Attorney Lewin the new registration certificate and photos showing the new inspection sticker and the plates on the car. AM still had not taken care of the license. The night before the hearing AM took the learner’s permit test and passed and got an email from the Registry showing his learner’s permit. The next morning, April 22, 2026, AM and Attorney Lewin appeared at Lawrence District Court for the hearing. Attorney Lewin presented to the Clerk-Magistrate all the documents to show that AM had “cured” all the problems for which he had been cited. At Attorney Lewin’s request, the Clerk-Magistrate denied the police application for a crimimal complaint for the unlicensed operation and the unregistered motor vehicle and the Clerk-Magistrate found AM NOT responsible of the two civil violations. It was a complete and total win.
After the hearing, Attorney Lewin explained the following to AM:
- NO criminal complaint was issued against AM.