Section 32. (a) Whoever falsely makes, alters, forges, or counterfeits a certificate of title or salvage title; or alters or forges an assignment of a certificate of title or salvage title, or supporting documents, or an assignment or release of a security interest on a certificate of title or a form the registrar prescribes; or has possession of or uses a certificate of title or salvage title, knowing it to have been altered, forged, or counterfeited; or uses a false or fictitious name or address, or makes a material false statement or fails to disclose a security interest, or conceals any other material fact, in an application for a certificate of title or salvage title; or supporting documents, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years, or in a jail or house of correction for not more than two years, or both.
(b) Whoever permits another not entitled thereto, to use or have possession of a certificate of title or salvage title or fails to mail or deliver a certificate of title, salvage title or application therefor to the registrar within ten days after the time required by this chapter, or whoever fails to deliver to the transferee or the registrar a certificate of title or salvage title within ten days after the time required by this chapter, or violates any other provision of the chapter, except as provided for in paragraph (a), shall be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than six months, or both.
(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), a lienholder who is found to be in violation of section 24 in accordance with the procedures set forth in section 24A shall be punished by a fine of not less than $500 for a first offense. For each successive violation, the fine shall not be less than $1,000 nor more than $2,000; but, if the lienholder has been cited and punished by the registrar for noncompliance 5 or more times in the preceding 12 month period, the penalty shall not be less than $5,000 for each subsequent offense.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title XIV - Public Ways and Works
Chapter 90d - Motor Vehicle Certificates of Title
Section 2 - Exemptions; Application of Sections
Section 3 - Application of Chapter
Section 4 - Registration Under Chapter 90; Application for Certificate of Title Required
Section 5 - Owner of Implement of Husbandry, etc.; Application of Chapter, Exception
Section 6 - Certificate of Origin
Section 7 - Application for First Certificate of Title; Contents
Section 8 - Check of Application Against Records
Section 9 - Issuance and Record of Certificates of Title
Section 10 - Contents of Certificate; Distinctive Certificates; Forms; Evidence; Nature
Section 11 - Mailing of Certificate
Section 11a - Electronic Recording of Security Interests
Section 12 - Withholding of Certificate; Bond
Section 13 - Refusal of Issuance; Grounds
Section 14 - Duplicate Certificate of Title
Section 16 - Dealers; Assignment and Warranty of Title; Record of Transactions
Section 17 - Involuntary Transfers of Interests
Section 19 - Issuance to Transferee; Surrendered Certificates
Section 20 - Total Loss Salvage Motor Vehicles; Surrender of Certificate of Title; Salvage Title
Section 20a - Application for Salvage Title; Procedure
Section 20b - Exceptions to Salvage Title Requirement
Section 20c - Transfer of Interest in Vehicle With Issued Salvage Title
Section 20d - Reconstruction or Restoration of Total Loss Salvage Motor Vehicle
Section 20e - Cancellation of Certificate Upon Junking or Scrapping of Vehicle
Section 21 - Perfecting of Security Interest in Vehicle
Section 21a - Motor Vehicles or Trailers; Limitation on Creation of Sale or Security Interest
Section 24 - Satisfaction of Security Interest in Vehicle
Section 25 - Disclosure of Information by Lienholder
Section 26 - Exclusiveness of Method of Perfecting Security Interests
Section 27 - Suspension or Revocation of Certificate of Title
Section 30 - Review of Ruling or Decision of Registrar
Section 31 - Liability of Registrar or Commonwealth
Section 34 - Previously Registered Vehicle, Defined
Section 35 - Application of Chapter to Previously Registered Vehicle
Section 36 - Previously Registered Vehicle; Undisclosed Security Interest; Distinctive Certificate
Section 38 - Validity of Certificate Issued Prior to Certain Dates