Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 90d - Motor Vehicle Certificates of Title
Section 32 - Punishment

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

Massachusetts General Laws

Part I - Administration of the Government

Title XIV - Public Ways and Works

Chapter 90d - Motor Vehicle Certificates of Title

Section 1 - Definitions

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 15 - Transfers; Execution of Assignments; Application for New Certificate; Lienholder's Rights; Compliance

Section 15a - Death of Registered Owner of Motor Vehicle; Presumption of Joint Ownership in Surviving Spouse

Section 16 - Dealers; Assignment and Warranty of Title; Record of Transactions

Section 17 - Involuntary Transfers of Interests

Section 18 - Application Fee

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 20f - Reassembly of Motor Vehicles From Other Motor Vehicles; Application for Title and Inspection

Section 21 - Perfecting of Security Interest in Vehicle

Section 21a - Motor Vehicles or Trailers; Limitation on Creation of Sale or Security Interest

Section 22 - Security Interest in Vehicle; Requirements of Owner, Lienholder and Subordinate Lienholder

Section 23 - Assignment, Etc. of Security Interest in Vehicle; Liability of Lienholder; Assignee's Rights

Section 24 - Satisfaction of Security Interest in Vehicle

Section 24a - Failure to Comply With Sec. 24; Civil Administrative Penalty Assessed on Lienholder by Registrar; Judicial Review

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 28 - Registrar's Fees

Section 29 - Forms Prescribed and Provided by Registrar; Rules and Regulations; Assignment of Persons Subject to Civil Service to Administer This Chapter

Section 30 - Review of Ruling or Decision of Registrar

Section 31 - Liability of Registrar or Commonwealth

Section 32 - Punishment

Section 33 - Theft, Conversion or Recovery of a Vehicle, Report; Dealers' Charge for Certificates Procured

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 37 - Perfection of Security Interest Created Prior to Effective Date of This Chapter; Law Applicable

Section 38 - Validity of Certificate Issued Prior to Certain Dates