Massachusetts General Laws ch. 90B sec. 14 – Penalties; proceedings
Section 14. (a) Whoever violates any provision of section two, three, four, six or nine A or of any rule or regulation pertaining thereto shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars, except as hereinafter provided. Any person against whom a complaint has been issued for a violation of section two or of any rule or regulation pertaining thereto may, if it is the first offense committed by such person in violation of the provisions of this chapter or of any rule or regulation made under authority hereof, appear in person or through an attorney or agent duly authorized in writing, before the clerk of the court having jurisdiction of the offense, and confess the offense charged. In the alternative, any person against whom a complaint has been issued for violation of section five, five A, six or nine A may waive a trial and plead guilty by mailing to the clerk of the court having jurisdiction of the offense, payment in the amount of ten dollars for each offense, by postal note, money order, or certified check made payable to said clerk. Payment by such a person to such clerk of a fine of ten dollars and costs shall operate as a final disposition of the case. Proceedings so disposed of by such clerk shall not be deemed criminal and no person who appears before a clerk of court as provided herein shall be required to report to any probation officer and no record of the case shall be entered in the probation records. Such clerk shall, within three days of such payment, forward to the director a certified copy of such proceedings. For the purpose of counting violations such disposition shall operate as if a finding of guilty had been made in court.
Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws ch. 90B sec. 14
- Clerk of court: An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records.
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(b) Whoever as a scuba diver, so-called or boat operator violates any provision of section five, five A, seven, subsection (b) of section nine, twelve A or thirteen A or of any rule or regulation pertaining thereto shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten nor more than fifty dollars.
(c) Whoever violates any provision of subsections (b), (c), or (d) of section eight or any rules or regulations pertaining to section eight shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.