reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 86 § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 86 - Boundaries of Highways and Other Public Places, and Encroachments Thereon|Section 5 - Removal of Gates, Rails, Bars or Fences Upon or Across Ways

Section 5. Any person may remove gates, rails, bars or fences which are upon or across a public or private way legally laid out, unless they have been placed there to prevent the spread of disease dangerous to the public health, or unless they have been erected or continued by the license of the county commissioners or of the selectmen or road commissioners or of the person for whose use such private way was laid out. A person aggrieved by such removal may apply to the county commissioners, selectmen or road commissioners, respectively, and if upon examination it appears that such gates, rails, bars or fences were erected or continued by such license, they shall order them replaced.
MA Gen L ch 86 § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 86 - Boundaries of Highways and Other Public Places, and Encroachments Thereon|Section 6 - Barbed Wire Fences

Section 6. Whoever builds or maintains a barbed wire fence within six feet of the ground along a sidewalk located on a public way shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty nor more than fifty dollars.
MA Gen L ch 86 § 7 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 86 - Boundaries of Highways and Other Public Places, and Encroachments Thereon|Section 7 - Removal of Unused Poles, Structures, Etc. From Public Ways

Section 7. The aldermen or selectmen may cause the removal from public ways and places of unused poles, wires, structures or other appliances, at the expense of the owners thereof.
MA Gen L ch 87 § 1 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 87 - Shade Trees|Section 1 - Public Shade Trees; Definition

Section 1. All trees within a public way or on the boundaries thereof including trees planted in accordance with the provisions of section 7 shall be public shade trees; and when it appears in any proceeding in which the ownership of or rights in a tree are material to the issue, that, from length of time or otherwise, the boundaries of the highway cannot be made certain by records or monuments, and that for that reason it is doubtful whether the tree is within the highway, it shall be taken to be within the highway and to be public property until the contrary is shown.
MA Gen L ch 87 § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 87 - Shade Trees|Section 2 - Powers of Tree Wardens

Section 2. The tree warden of a town may appoint and remove deputy tree wardens. He and they shall receive such compensation as the town determines or, in default thereof, as the selectmen allow. He shall have the care and control of all public shade trees, shrubs and growths in the town, except those within a state highway, and those in public parks or open places under the jurisdiction of the park commissioners, and shall have care and control of the latter, if so requested in writing by the park commissioners, and shall enforce all the provisions of law for the preservation of such trees, shrubs and growths. He shall expend all money appropriated for the setting out and maintenance of such trees, shrubs and growths, and no tree shall be planted within a public way without the approval of the tree warden, and in towns until a location therefor has been obtained from the selectmen or road commissioners. He may make regulations for the care and preservation of public shade trees and establish fines and forfeitures of not more than twenty dollars in any one case for violation thereof; which, when posted in one or more public places, and, in towns, when approved by the selectmen, shall have the effect of town by-laws.
MA Gen L ch 87 § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 87 - Shade Trees|Section 3 - Cutting of Public Shade Trees; Public Hearing; Damages to Fee Owner

Section 3. Except as provided by section five, public shade trees shall not be cut, trimmed or removed, in whole or in part, by any person other than the tree warden or his deputy, even if he be the owner of the fee in the land on which such tree is situated, except upon a permit in writing from said tree warden, nor shall they be cut down or removed by the tree warden or his deputy or other person without a public hearing and said tree warden or his deputy shall cause a notice of the time and place of such hearing thereof, which shall identify the size, type and location of the shade tree or trees to be cut down or removed, to be posted in two or more public places in the town and upon the tree at least seven days before such hearing and published in a newspaper of general circulation in the city or town once in each of two successive weeks, the first publication to be not less than seven days before the day of the hearing or if no such local newspaper exists then in accordance with the provisions of section six of chapter four; provided, however, that when a public hearing must be held under the provisions of this section and under section fifteen C of chapter forty prior to the cutting or removal of a tree, such hearings shall be consolidated into a single public hearing before the tree warden and the planning board, or if there is no planning board, the selectmen of a town or the city council of a city, and notice of such consolidated public hearing shall be given by the tree warden or his deputy as provided herein. Any person injured in his property by the action of the officers in charge of the public shade trees as to the trimming, cutting, removal or retention of any such tree, or as to the amount awarded to him for the same, may recover the damages, if any, which he has sustained, from the town under chapter seventy-nine.
MA Gen L ch 87 § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 87 - Shade Trees|Section 4 - Cutting Down or Removing Public Shade Trees; Approval of Selectmen or Mayor

Section 4. Tree wardens shall not cut down or remove or grant a permit for the cutting down or removal of a public shade tree if, at or before a public hearing as provided in the preceding section, objection in writing is made by one or more persons, unless such cutting or removal or permit to cut or remove is approved by the selectmen or by the mayor.
MA Gen L ch 87 § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 87 - Shade Trees|Section 5 - Cutting Down, Trimming or Removing Bushes and Small Trees

Section 5. Tree wardens and their deputies, but no other person, may, without a hearing, trim, cut down or remove trees, less than one and one half inches in diameter one foot from the ground, and bushes, standing in public ways; and, if ordered by the mayor, selectmen, road commissioners or highway surveyor, shall trim or cut down trees and bushes, if the same shall be deemed to obstruct, endanger, hinder or incommode persons traveling thereon or to obstruct buildings being moved pursuant to the provisions of section eighteen of chapter eighty-five. Nothing contained in this chapter shall prevent the trimming, cutting or removal of any tree which endangers persons traveling on a highway, or the removal of any tree, if so ordered by the proper officers for the purpose of widening the highway and nothing herein contained shall interfere with the suppression of pests declared to be public nuisances by section eleven of chapter one hundred and thirty-two, including the Dutch elm disease.
MA Gen L ch 87 § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 87 - Shade Trees|Section 6 - Penalty for Violation of Sec. 3, 4 or 5

Section 6. Violations of any provision of the three preceding sections shall be punished by forfeiture of not more than five hundred dollars to the use of the city or town.
MA Gen L ch 87 § 7 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 87 - Shade Trees|Section 7 - Planting of Shade Trees

Section 7. Cities and towns may appropriate money for the purpose of acquiring and planting shade trees in public ways. The tree warden, or a private organization acting with the written consent of the tree warden, may plant shade trees acquired with public or private funds in a public way, or if he deems it expedient, upon adjoining land at a distance not exceeding 20 feet from the layout of such public way for the purpose of improving, protecting, shading or ornamenting the same; provided, however, that the written consent of the owner of such adjoining land shall first be obtained.
MA Gen L ch 87 § 8 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 87 - Shade Trees|Section 8 - Trees on State Highways

Section 8. The department of highways, in this chapter called the department, shall have the care and control of all trees, shrubs and growths within state highways, and may trim, cut or remove such trees, shrubs and growths, or license the trimming, cutting or removal thereof. No such tree, shrub or other growth shall be trimmed, cut or removed by any person other than an agent or employee of the department, even if he be the owner of the fee in the land on which such tree, shrub or growth is situated, except upon a permit in writing from the department. Any person injured in his property by the action of the department as to the trimming, cutting, removal or retention of any such tree, shrub or other growth, may recover the damages, if any, which he has sustained, from the commonwealth under chapter seventy-nine.
MA Gen L ch 87 § 9 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 87 - Shade Trees|Section 9 - Signs or Marks on Shade Trees

Section 9. Whoever affixes to a tree in a public way or place a notice, sign, advertisement or other thing, whether in writing or otherwise, or cuts, paints or marks such tree, except for the purpose of protecting it or the public and under a written permit from the officer having the charge of such trees in a city or from the tree warden in a town, or from the department in the case of a state highway, shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars. Tree wardens shall enforce the provisions of this section; but if a tree warden fails to act in the case of a state highway within thirty days after the receipt by him of a complaint in writing from the department, the department may proceed to enforce this section.
MA Gen L ch 87 § 10 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 87 - Shade Trees|Section 10 - Injury to Trees on State Highways

Section 10. Whoever without authority trims, cuts down or removes a tree, shrub or growth, within a state highway or maliciously injures, defaces or destroys any such tree, shrub or growth shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than six months, or by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars to the use of the commonwealth.
MA Gen L ch 87 § 11 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 87 - Shade Trees|Section 11 - Injury to Trees of Another Person

Section 11. Whoever wilfully, maliciously or wantonly cuts, destroys or injures a tree, shrub or growth which is not his own, standing for any useful purpose, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than six months or by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars.
MA Gen L ch 87 § 12 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 87 - Shade Trees|Section 12 - Injury to Shrubs, Trees or Fixtures

Section 12. Whoever wantonly injures, defaces or destroys a shrub, plant or tree, or fixture of ornament or utility, in a public way or place or in any public enclosure, or negligently or wilfully suffers an animal driven by or for him or belonging to him to injure, deface or destroy such shrub, plant, tree or fixture, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, and shall in addition thereto be liable to the town or any person for all damages to its or his interest in said shrub, plant, tree or fixture caused by such act. Whoever by any other means negligently or wilfully injures, defaces or destroys such a shrub, plant, tree or fixture shall likewise be liable to the town or any person for all damages to its or his interest in said shrub, plant, tree or fixture caused by such act.
MA Gen L ch 87 § 13 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 87 - Shade Trees|Section 13 - Powers and Duties of Tree Wardens in Cities

Section 13. The powers and duties conferred and imposed upon tree wardens in towns by this chapter shall be exercised and performed in cities by the officers charged with the care of shade trees within the limits of the highway.
MA Gen L ch 88 § 1 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 88 - Ferries, Canals and Public Landings|Section 1 - Ferryman; License

Section 1. The county commissioners may license for such time as they determine any suitable person to keep a ferry for hire, and may revoke such license when necessary. Each ferryman shall give to the state treasurer a bond with sufficient sureties for the faithful performance of his duty.
MA Gen L ch 88 § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 88 - Ferries, Canals and Public Landings|Section 2 - Fares and Tolls

Section 2. The commissioners shall establish at each ferry the fares or tolls for passengers, horses, vehicles and other things there transported, having regard to the length and situation of the ferry and to the number of persons using the same. This and the preceding section shall not apply to ferries established by law prior to April thirtieth, eighteen hundred and thirty-six.
MA Gen L ch 88 § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 88 - Ferries, Canals and Public Landings|Section 3 - Sufficiency and Safety of Boats

Section 3. Each ferryman shall keep sufficient and safe boats in good repair and shall give ready attendance on passengers on all occasions according to the regulations established for his ferry. If he neglects to keep such boats or to give such attendance, he shall forfeit not more than twenty dollars, and be liable for all damages caused thereby.
MA Gen L ch 88 § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 88 - Ferries, Canals and Public Landings|Section 4 - Remedy for Damage From Negligence or Default of Ferryman

Section 4. Whoever suffers damage by the negligence or default of a ferryman may recover the same by an action upon his bond; which may be prosecuted as an action brought on the bond of a sheriff is prosecuted.
MA Gen L ch 88 § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 88 - Ferries, Canals and Public Landings|Section 5 - Keeping Ferry Without License; Liability

Section 5. Whoever without license keeps a ferry and demands or receives pay or toll therefor shall forfeit not more than five dollars for each day during which he keeps such ferry, and shall be liable for all damages caused thereby to any person authorized to keep a ferry.
MA Gen L ch 88 § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 88 - Ferries, Canals and Public Landings|Section 6 - Maintenance of Ferry by Towns

Section 6. If the commissioners determine that it is necessary to establish a ferry, and no person appears to keep it for the profits thereof, the town in which such ferry is required shall provide a person to keep it at such place and seasons as the commissioners order. Such person shall be licensed as aforesaid, and the expense of maintaining such ferry, in excess of the amount received for tolls, shall be paid by the town.
MA Gen L ch 88 § 7 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 88 - Ferries, Canals and Public Landings|Section 7 - Apportionment of Expense of Maintenance of Ferry

Section 7. The commissioners may, either when such ferry is established between two towns or thereafter, upon the application of ten voters of either town and after notice to both towns and a hearing, order that such towns shall maintain said ferry either jointly or alternately, and shall adjudge in what proportion they shall bear the expense of such maintenance; and the commissioners may, upon a new application and after notice and a hearing, revise such order. Their determination shall be final.
MA Gen L ch 88 § 8 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 88 - Ferries, Canals and Public Landings|Section 8 - Negligence in Maintaining Ferry

Section 8. A town which neglects to maintain a ferry as provided in the two preceding sections shall forfeit not more than one hundred dollars for each month such neglect continues.
MA Gen L ch 88 § 9 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 88 - Ferries, Canals and Public Landings|Section 9 - Certificate of Character of Load

Section 9. The master of a boat laden with goods, wares or merchandise which enters the waters of a canal to be carried thereon, shall exhibit a certificate signed by him to the collector of tolls, stating the name of the owner of the boat, the name of the place to which it is destined and the quantity or weight of the respective articles laden on board, distinguishing each article, as to quantity or weight, according to the toll which it is liable to pay. A master who neglects or refuses to exhibit such certificate, or knowingly, and with intent to defraud the proprietors of the canal, makes or delivers a false certificate of the kind or quantity of goods, wares or merchandise laden on board such boat, shall forfeit one hundred dollars. The proprietors shall prepare the proper blank forms of certificates of loading; and masters of boats shall be entitled to use them without expense.
MA Gen L ch 88 § 10 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 88 - Ferries, Canals and Public Landings|Section 10 - False Statement as to Quantity or Quality of Goods Laden

Section 10. Whoever knowingly and with intent to defraud such proprietors makes or causes to be made a false statement of the quantity or quality of goods, wares or merchandise laden or to be laden on board of a boat used on such canal shall forfeit one hundred dollars.
MA Gen L ch 88 § 11 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 88 - Ferries, Canals and Public Landings|Section 11 - Examination of Load

Section 11. A collector of tolls on a canal may detain a boat and cause the goods, wares and merchandise laden on board to be weighed; and if it is found that the loading is greater than the quantity stated in the certificate, the master of the boat, in addition to the penalty hereinbefore provided, shall pay the costs and charges of unloading, weighing and reloading such goods, wares or merchandise; otherwise the proprietors of the canal shall pay all such costs and charges, and be liable in tort for all damages caused by such detention.
MA Gen L ch 88 § 12 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 88 - Ferries, Canals and Public Landings|Section 12 - Fencing Dangerous Canals

Section 12. The city council of a city or the selectmen of a town may, for the purpose of determining whether a canal or waterway within the limits of the city or town is dangerous to the public, give a public hearing thereon, after notice in writing, to the person owning, operating or controlling said canal or waterway, and if after such hearing the council or selectmen shall adjudge said canal or waterway to be dangerous to the public, they shall order that a suitable fence be erected along said canal or waterway or any portion thereof. The person so ordered to erect the fence may within thirty days after written notice of said order, appeal therefrom to the department of highways, which shall thereupon give due notice and hear all parties interested, and its decision thereon shall be final.
MA Gen L ch 88 § 13 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIV - Public Ways and Works|Chapter 88 - Ferries, Canals and Public Landings|Section 13 - Failure to Comply With Fencing Order

Section 13. If such order of the city council or selectmen is not complied with within sixty days after written notice of it has been given, or, in the event of an appeal to said department, within sixty days after written notice of its decision affirming such order, the city council or selectmen shall cause a suitable fence to be erected and shall recover the cost thereof in contract from the person required to erect it, who, for such neglect, shall also be punished by a fine of not less than fifty nor more than one hundred dollars.