Massachusetts General Laws ch. 22C sec. 42 – Motor vehicle ownership records; certified copies; prima facie evidence
Section 42. In proceedings under sections twenty-seven A, twenty-eight, twenty-nine, one hundred and eleven A and one hundred and thirty-nine of chapter two hundred and sixty-six, certified copies of any motor vehicle or trailer ownership records, including computer records, in the possession of the registrar of motor vehicles, attested by the registrar or his designee or, if the motor vehicle or trailer is registered or titled in another state, such records similarly certified by the keeper of records of the appropriate motor vehicle department, shall be admissible as proof of ownership of a motor vehicle or trailer and shall be prima facie evidence that the use of the motor vehicle or trailer was unauthorized. If the defendant rebuts such evidence, the commonwealth may be granted a reasonable continuance to enable the owner of the vehicle to be brought into court to testify.
Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws ch. 22C sec. 42
- Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Testify: Answer questions in court.