Massachusetts bill doubles jail time, fines for fraud

New language states that appraisers and shop owners could lose their license, but insurers will still not face criminal charges.

Massachusetts's legislators recently passed a bill that doubles the maximum amount of jail time and raises the fine to 20 times the minimum and five times the maximum of what it was previously for auto repairers and auto repair facilities committing insurance fraud.

Massachusetts Senate Bill (S.B.) No. 2096 passed through the House and Senate, and on June 13, was signed by Republican Acting Gov. Jane Swift.

Previously, the law called for a person filing a fraudulent motor vehicle claim to serve between six months and 2 1/2 years of time …