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bostonshopper OP t1_jdfnwzl wrote

I'm going off what an RMV supervisor told me, and I believe he was talking about this paragraph from chapter 90 section 3:

"A motor vehicle or trailer owned by a non-resident who has complied with the laws relative to motor vehicles and trailers, and the registration and operation thereof, of the state or country of registration, may be operated on the ways of this commonwealth without registration under this chapter, to the extent, as to length of time of operation and otherwise, that, as finally determined by the registrar, the state or country of registration grants substantially similar privileges in the case of motor vehicles and trailers duly registered under the laws and owned by residents of this commonwealth; provided, that no motor vehicle or trailer shall be so operated on more than thirty days in the aggregate in any one year."

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TurretLauncher t1_jdhff3a wrote

You misquoted the law. There’s no period after “in any one year”.

> Section 3. Subject to the provisions of section three A and except as otherwise provided in this section and in section ten, a motor vehicle or trailer owned by a non-resident who has complied with the laws relative to motor vehicles and trailers, and the registration and operation thereof, of the state or country of registration, may be operated on the ways of this commonwealth without registration under this chapter, to the extent, as to length of time of operation and otherwise, that, as finally determined by the registrar, the state or country of registration grants substantially similar privileges in the case of motor vehicles and trailers duly registered under the laws and owned by residents of this commonwealth; provided, that no motor vehicle or trailer shall be so operated on more than thirty days in the aggregate in any one year or, in any case where the owner thereof acquires a regular place of abode or business or employment within the commonwealth, beyond a period of thirty days after the acquisition thereof, except during such time as the owner thereof maintains in full force a policy of liability insurance providing indemnity for or protection to him, and to any person responsible for the operation of such motor vehicle or trailer with his express or implied consent, against loss by reason of the liability to pay damages to others for bodily injuries, including death at any time resulting therefrom, caused by such motor vehicle or trailer, at least to the amount or limits required in a motor vehicle liability policy as defined in section thirty-four A.

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bostonshopper OP t1_jdosrmr wrote

Didn't mean to misquote, just cut off at the part that is being applied to my situation, at least according to the RMV supervisor I spoke with. I agree that the way I read it, having MA-compliant liability insurance, like I do, should exempt me from the registration requirement, but they're saying it doesn't...

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TurretLauncher t1_jdox9mm wrote

The legal principle known as the "Rule of Lenity" holds that "Ambiguity in a statute defining a crime or imposing a penalty should be resolved in favor of the defendant." And "The Whole Act Rule" holds that "The text [of the statute] should be construed as a whole." Selectively excerpting from the statute isn't allowed.

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