reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 134 - Lost Goods and Stray Beasts › Section 6 - Rights of Owner and Finder of Stray Beasts

Section 6. If the owner of stray beasts appears within one year after the finding thereof, and proves title thereto, he shall, if they have not been sold under the preceding section, have restitution thereof upon payment, except as provided in section two, of all reasonable expenses incurred by the finder in keeping such beasts and in complying with this chapter; but if they have been sold he shall be entitled to receive the proceeds of the sale after deducting the expenses aforesaid. If no such owner appears within said year the beasts, or the proceeds, shall enure to the finder, provided he has complied with this chapter.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 134 - Lost Goods and Stray Beasts › Section 7 - Taking Away Stray Beasts Without Paying Lawful Charges

Section 7. Any person who takes away a beast taken up as a stray, without paying all lawful charges in relation thereto, shall forfeit to the finder double the amount of such charges, but not more than the value of the beast at the time of such taking away.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 135 - Unclaimed and Abandoned Property › Section 1 - Sale by Common Carriers of Unclaimed Baggage at Public Auction; Notice

Section 1. Common carriers engaged in the transportation of passengers may sell baggage left unclaimed in their possession for a period of one hundred and twenty days at public auction, after publication of notice of such sale once a week for five successive weeks in a newspaper published in the city or town where said sale is to take place. The net proceeds of such sale, after deducting storage and other charges and all expenses of the sale, shall be paid over to the commonwealth.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 135 - Unclaimed and Abandoned Property › Section 5 - Perishable Products; Sale Without Advertising; Notice; Proceeds

Section 5. When a common carrier has transported fresh meats, fresh fish, shellfish, fruit or vegetables to their destination, such carrier may, in the exercise of a reasonable discretion, after notice to the owner or consignee thereof of the arrival of such goods and his refusal or omission to pay the freight and proper charges thereon and to receive and take them away, or without such notice and refusal or omission if such owner or consignee thereof cannot, on reasonable inquiry, be found, sell the same at public or private sale without advertising. The proceeds thereof, after deducting the amount of the freight thereon and the charges and expenses of sale, shall be paid to the owner or consignee.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 135 - Unclaimed and Abandoned Property › Section 6 - Unclaimed Goods Carried by Railroad Company, Express or Vessel; Sale at Public Auction; Publication; Proceeds

Section 6. If goods carried by a railroad company, by express or in a vessel are not called for by the owner or consignee within one year after the date of their receipt at the place of consignment, they may be sold by public auction, notice of the time and place of sale, containing a descriptive list of all such goods with all such specific marks as may serve to identify the same, first being published once a week for three successive weeks in a newspaper, if any, published in the town where such sale is to take place, and also in the town to which they were consigned, otherwise in the newspaper published nearest thereto. The proceeds, after deducting costs of transportation, storage, advertising and sale, shall be paid to the owner, upon demand and satisfactory proof of ownership, within three years after the sale; otherwise to the commonwealth.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 135 - Unclaimed and Abandoned Property › Section 7 - Property Taken by Police Officers From Persons Under Arrest; Disposition

Section 7. If property which has been stolen, lost, abandoned or taken from a person under arrest comes into the possession of a member of the police department of a city by virtue of his office, he shall deliver the same to the officer or member of the department designated by the rules thereof, and shall thereupon be relieved from further responsibility therefor. The officer or member to whom such property is so delivered shall give notice as provided in section one of chapter one hundred and thirty-four. The word ''city'' as used in this and the four following sections shall include town.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 135 - Unclaimed and Abandoned Property › Section 8 - Unclaimed Property in Possession of Police Department; Sale at Public Auction; Notice

Section 8. If such property remains unclaimed in the possession of such police department or member thereof for one month and the owner thereof or his place of abode or business is unknown, or if the owner and his place of abode or business are known and the owner, after receipt by registered mail of a written notice from such department or member to take possession of said property, refuses or fails for a period of ten days following said receipt so to do, such department may sell the same, excepting money unclaimed, by public auction or any other licensed auction service, including sale over the Internet, notice of the time and place of sale, with a description of the property to be sold, first being given by publishing the same once in each of three successive weeks in a newspaper published in such city. Any violation of the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty nor more than one hundred dollars and by forfeiture of any such property obtained as a result of such violation.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 135 - Unclaimed and Abandoned Property › Section 9 - Sale of Perishable Property; Notice

Section 9. Such property, if perishable or liable to deteriorate greatly in value by keeping or the value of which will probably be less than the expense of keeping the same, may be sold by public auction within said two months in accordance with the rules of the department, reasonable notice of the time and place of sale first being given by publishing the same in a newspaper published in such city.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 135 - Unclaimed and Abandoned Property › Section 11 - Payment of Proceeds to Owner Upon Application and Proof of Ownership

Section 11. If, within two years and two months after such money has come into the possession of a member of the police department of a city or within two years after such sale of other property, the owner claims and proves ownership thereof, the unclaimed balance of such money or the proceeds of such sale, after deducting all reasonable charges and expenses, shall be paid to him, upon the order of the head of such department.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 135 - Unclaimed and Abandoned Property › Section 12 - Removal of Timber Carried Away by Flood; Payment of Damages

Section 12. The owner of a log, mast, spar or other timber carried by flood into land adjoining any river, stream or pond may, within six months, remove the same from said land upon paying or tendering to the owner or occupant thereof such reasonable damages as may be caused by such removal; and if he does not so remove it within said six months, or otherwise agree with the owner or occupant of such land, it shall be the property of such owner or occupant.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 136 - Observance of a Common Day of Rest and Legal Holidays › Section 2 - Sports, Games and Entertainment on Sunday; Presence at or Engagement in Certain Unlicensed Activities for Which Charge Is Made; Penalty

Section 2. Whoever on Sunday is present at or engages in dancing, except folk or square dancing, or any game, sport, fair, exposition, play, entertainment or public diversion for which a charge in the form of the payment or collection of money or other valuable consideration is made for the privilege of being present thereat or engaging therein, and for which a license has not been granted under the provisions of section two of chapter one hundred and twenty-eight A or as provided in section four, shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 136 - Observance of a Common Day of Rest and Legal Holidays › Section 3 - Sports, Games and Entertainment on Sunday; Offering to View or Promoting Certain Unlicensed Activities; Penalties

Section 3. Whoever on Sunday offers to view, sets up, establishes or maintains, or attempts to set up, establish or maintain, or promotes or assists in such attempt, or promotes, or aids, abets or participates in offering to view, setting up, establishing or maintaining, or acts as proprietor, manager or person in charge of, dancing or any game, sport, fair, exposition, play, entertainment or public diversion for which a charge in the form of the payment of money or other valuable consideration is made for the privilege of being present thereat or engaging therein, and for which a license has not been granted under the provisions of section two of chapter one hundred and twenty-eight A or as provided in section four, shall be punished by a fine of not more than two thousand dollars.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 136 - Observance of a Common Day of Rest and Legal Holidays › Section 5 - Business, Trade, Labor or Work on Sunday; Conducting Business on Sunday; Penalty

Section 5. Whoever on Sunday keeps open his shop, warehouse, factory or other place of business, or sells foodstuffs, goods, wares, merchandise or real estate, or does any manner of labor, business or work, except works of necessity and charity, shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty dollars nor more than one hundred dollars for a first offense, and a fine of not less than fifty dollars nor more than two hundred dollars for each subsequent offense, and each unlawful act or sale shall constitute a separate offense.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 136 - Observance of a Common Day of Rest and Legal Holidays › Section 7 - Permit for Performance of Necessary Work or Labor on Sunday; Fees

Section 7. The police commissioner of the city of Boston, or any member of the police department having a rank not lower than that of captain and designated by said commissioner, or the chief of police or the board or other officer in charge of the police department of any other city or of any town, or the chairman of the board of selectmen of any town where no police department has been established, upon reasonable terms and conditions may issue a permit for the performance on Sunday of necessary work or labor which could not be performed on any other day without serious suffering, loss, damage or public inconvenience, or which could not be performed on any other day without delay to military defense work. Permits for Sunday work in stores covered by clause (50) of section six, shall not be granted without the approval of the department of labor and workforce development, which shall approve such permits only on a uniform basis throughout the commonwealth.
A permit under this section shall cover not more than one day. Application shall be made within sixty days prior to the day on which the permit is to be used, and a permit shall be issued or denied within fifteen days of application. The fee for such a permit will be set by the mayor of a city or the selectmen of a town, but in no event shall any such fee for said permit be greater than ten dollars.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 136 - Observance of a Common Day of Rest and Legal Holidays › Section 7a - Business, Trade, Labor or Work on Sunday; Appeal From Denial of Work Permit

Section 7A. In any city or town which accepts the provisions of this section when an application for a permit has been denied under the provisions of sections seven or fifteen such applicant may appeal such denial to the board of selectmen in a town or to the mayor of a city, as the case may be, and after a hearing such selectmen or mayor may issue such permit as provided in said sections seven or fifteen.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 136 - Observance of a Common Day of Rest and Legal Holidays › Section 8 - Business, Trade, Labor or Work on Sunday; Service or Execution of Process

Section 8. Civil process shall not be served or executed on Sunday, and such service if made shall be void, and the person who serves or executes it shall be liable in damages to the person aggrieved in like manner as if he had no such process; provided, that this section shall not apply to service of such process by publication in a newspaper published on Sunday.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 136 - Observance of a Common Day of Rest and Legal Holidays › Section 10 - Business, Trade, Labor or Work on Sunday; Equitable Relief; Jurisdiction of Superior Court

Section 10. In addition to any criminal penalty herein provided the attorney general, a district attorney, a mayor or city manager and city council, or the board of selectmen of the town may petition the superior court in equity to enjoin any violation of this chapter. The superior court shall have original jurisdiction over such petitions in equity and authority to enjoin such violations.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 136 - Observance of a Common Day of Rest and Legal Holidays › Section 12 - Legal Holidays; Public Offices; Closing

Section 12. The public offices shall be closed on all legal holidays except March seventeenth, May twentieth, and June seventeenth; provided, however, in Suffolk county such offices shall be closed on March seventeenth and June seventeenth or the day following when either of said days occurs on Sunday.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 136 - Observance of a Common Day of Rest and Legal Holidays › Section 13 - Legal Holidays; Application of Secs. 5 to 11; Exceptions

Section 13. The provisions of sections five to eleven, inclusive, shall, except as provided in section fourteen, apply to all legal holidays, except January first, the third Monday in January, the third Monday in February, March seventeenth, the third Monday in April, May twentieth, June seventeenth, June nineteenth, the second Monday in October after the hour of twelve noon, and November eleventh after one o'clock post meridian, or on the day following when any of said days occur on Sunday.
Any retail establishment that operates on January first, November eleventh or the second Monday in October, under the exemption granted by this section, shall not require any employee to perform such work and an employee's refusal to work for any retail establishment on such legal holidays shall not be grounds for discrimination, dismissal, discharge, reduction in hours or any other penalty. The provisions of this paragraph shall be enforced by the attorney general. The provisions of section one hundred and eighty A of chapter one hundred and forty-nine shall apply to any violation of this paragraph.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 136 - Observance of a Common Day of Rest and Legal Holidays › Section 14 - Legal Holidays; Sporting Events; Laundry; Transport of Goods; Tourist Trade; Licensing Certain Events; Fees

Section 14. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, dancing or any game, sport, fair, exposition, play, entertainment or public diversion, including events authorized under chapter one hundred and twenty-eight A, may be conducted on any legal holiday and any labor, business or work necessary or incidental thereto may be performed on any legal holiday, and any business licensed under chapter one hundred and thirty-eight may be conducted in accordance with the provisions of said chapter on any legal holiday. The transport of goods in commerce, or for a consideration, by motor truck or trailer, between the hours of eight o'clock in the morning and eight o'clock in the evening, shall not be prohibited on any legal holiday to which the provisions of sections five to eleven, inclusive, apply, provided such goods are destined for or emanate from an establishment in the commonwealth for which a permit has been issued under the provisions of section fifteen, or is otherwise lawfully operating on the holiday. The delivery of linen supplies, laundry and diapers shall not be prohibited on any legal holiday, nor shall the processing of laundry for hospitals, clinics, nursing and rest homes, and physicians' offices be prohibited on any legal holiday. Hunting, if otherwise lawful, shall not be prohibited on any legal holiday.
The mayor of a city or the selectmen of a town, upon written application therefor, and upon such terms and conditions as they may prescribe, may grant licenses for the maintenance and operation on the last Monday in May, July fourth and the first Monday of September, or the day following when July fourth occurs on Sunday, of establishments for the sale of souvenirs to the tourist trade, articles of beachwear and other goods incidental thereto, at amusement parks or beach resorts. The fee for such a license shall be set by the mayor of a city or the selectmen of a town, but in no event shall any such fee be greater than twenty dollars per event and four hundred dollars per year.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 136 - Observance of a Common Day of Rest and Legal Holidays › Section 15 - Legal Holidays; Permit for Performance of Necessary Work or Labor; Fees

Section 15. The persons or boards designated in section seven may, with respect to any legal holiday to which the provisions of sections five to eleven, inclusive, apply, grant for any such holiday any permit which could be granted under said section seven for the performance on Sunday of necessary work or labor, and, in addition, a permit for the performance of work on such holiday when due to special circumstances relating to manufacturing, serious production inconvenience, will result if such work is not performed on such holiday. In addition, such persons or boards may grant a permit for the performance of work on such holiday by clerical and office personnel in offices which are corporate offices or branches of interstate manufacturing operations working in other states on such holiday or in offices connected with manufacturing plants in the commonwealth whether or not production work is being carried on therein on such holiday, if inconvenience will result if such work is not performed on such holiday. The fee for such permits shall be set by the mayor of the city or the selectmen of the town, but in no event shall any such fee be greater than ten dollars.
Section five shall not prohibit work lawfully performed by persons working under permits granted under this section.
A permit under this section shall cover not more than one day. Application shall be made within sixty days prior to the day on which the permit is to be used, and the permit shall be issued or denied within fifteen days of application. Permits for work on legal holidays in stores covered by clause (50) of section 6 shall not be granted without the approval of the department of labor, which shall approve such permits only on a uniform basis statewide, but no such permit shall be required for such stores on the legal holidays covered by sections 13 and 16 and for the legal holiday, as defined in clause eighteenth of section 7 of chapter 4 on the day after Christmas Day in any year in which Christmas Day occurs on Sunday.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 136 - Observance of a Common Day of Rest and Legal Holidays › Section 16 - Retail Stores and Shops; Sunday and Holiday Opening

Section 16. All stores and shops which sell goods at retail may be open at any time on Sundays and on Memorial Day, Juneteenth Independence Day, July Fourth and Labor Day, but no such stores and shops may be open on Christmas Day if Christmas occurs on a Sunday. The performance of labor, business and work directly connected to retail sales on these days shall also be allowed. Stores and shops allowed to open under this section may sell on these days all types of goods and foodstuffs which may lawfully be offered for sale in the commonwealth other than alcoholic beverages. To the extent that this section is inconsistent with section 6 or any other general or special law, this section shall control.
Any store or shop that qualifies for exemption under clause (25), (27) or (50) of section 6 and employs more than 7 persons, including the proprietor, shall not require any employee to perform such work, and an employee's refusal to work for any retail establishment on a holiday shall not be grounds for discrimination, dismissal, discharge, reduction in hours or any other penalty. The terms ''Memorial Day,'' ''Juneteenth Independence Day,'' ''July Fourth'' and ''Labor Day'' shall mean the legal holidays on which said days are celebrated in accordance with clause eighteen of section seven of chapter four of the General Laws.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 137 - Gaming › Section 1 - Recovery of Money or Goods Lost at Gaming or Sports Wagering; Limitation Period

Section 1. Whoever, by playing at cards, dice or other game, or by betting on the sides or hands of those gaming, except for gaming conducted in licensed gaming establishments pursuant to chapter 23K or sports wagering conducted pursuant to chapter 23N, loses to a person so playing or betting money or goods, and pays or delivers the same or any part thereof to the winner, or whoever pays or delivers money or other thing of value to another person for or in consideration of a lottery, policy or pool ticket, certificate, check or slip, or for or in consideration of a chance of drawing or obtaining any money, prize or other thing of value in a lottery or policy game, pool or combination, or other bet, may recover such money or the value of such goods in contract; and if he does not within three months after such loss, payment or delivery, without covin or collusion, prosecute such action with effect, any other person may sue for and recover in tort treble the value thereof.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 137 - Gaming › Section 2 - Liability of Owner, Tenant or Occupant of Gaming House

Section 2. The owner, tenant or occupant of a house or building, but not including an owner or operator of a gaming establishment licensed pursuant to chapter 23K or an operator who offers sports wagering pursuant to chapter 23N, where money or goods are lost, paid or delivered in any form of gaming referred to in the preceding section, or by betting on the sides or hands of those gaming, with the knowledge or consent of said owner, occupant or tenant, shall be liable in the same manner and to the same extent as the winner or receiver thereof is liable under the preceding section.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 137 - Gaming › Section 3 - Validity of Notes, Bills, Bonds, Mortgages, Securities or Conveyances Won by Gaming

Section 3. Notes, bills, bonds, mortgages or other securities or conveyances the whole or part of the consideration of which is money or goods won by gaming or playing at cards, dice or any other game, or by betting on the sides or hands of persons gaming, or for repaying or reimbursing money knowingly lent or advanced for gaming or betting, but not including gaming conducted pursuant to chapter 23K or sports wagering conducted pursuant to chapter 23N, or lent and advanced at the time and place of such gaming or betting to a person so gaming or betting, shall be void as between the parties thereto, and as to all persons except such as hold or claim under them in good faith and without notice of the illegality of the consideration.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 137 - Gaming › Section 4 - Margin Contracts to Buy or Sell Securities Without Actual Purchase or Sale; Purchases or Sales Made on Stock Exchange or by Persons Employed on Stock Exchange or Board of Trade

Section 4. Whoever upon credit or upon margin contracts to buy or sell, or employs another to buy or sell for his account, any securities or commodities, intending at the time that there shall be no actual purchase or sale, may recover in contract from the other party to the contract, or from the person so employed, any payment made, or the value of anything delivered, on account thereof, if such other party to the contract or person so employed had reasonable cause to believe that said intention existed; but no person shall have a right of action under this section if, for his account, such other party to the contract or the person so employed makes, in accordance with the terms of the contract or employment, personally or by agent, an actual purchase or sale of said securities or commodities, or a valid contract therefor. A purchase or sale of securities, or a contract therefor, whether calling for present or future deliveries, made on any stock exchange or board of trade established for a period of at least ten years prior thereto, and recognized as valid and enforceable by the law of the jurisdiction where made, shall be deemed an actual purchase or sale within the meaning of this section.
If a purchase or sale of the securities or commodities ordered to be bought or sold is made by the person so employed on a stock exchange or board of trade, and other purchases or sales of such securities or commodities are made on the same day on such exchange or board by such person for others in due course of business, and the balance of such purchases or sales of securities or commodities is received or delivered by such person by direction of the clearing house of such exchange or board on the day when such purchase or sale or contract therefor is made, or on the regular clearing day of such exchange or board next thereafter, which shall not be more than four days after the making of such purchase or sale, or contract therefor, such purchases and sales shall be deemed actual purchases and sales within the meaning of this section.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 137 - Gaming › Section 5 - Recovery of Stolen or Embezzled Money or Property

Section 5. If, in a case under the preceding section, the money or property paid or delivered has been stolen, embezzled or fraudulently or wrongfully used by the party entitled to recover under said section, the person to whom it rightfully belongs may in his own name recover it in contract.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 137 - Gaming › Section 6 - Fact of Non-Ownership of Securities at Time of Contract of Sale; Prima Facie Evidence of Intent Not to Receive or Deliver

Section 6. In a proceeding under either of the two preceding sections, if the person so employed does not make an actual transaction relieving him from liability under section four, the fact that the seller or the person employing another to sell for his account did not own the securities or commodities at the time of the contract of sale or of the giving of the order to sell, and the fact that settlements were made without completion of the purchase or sale of the securities and commodities bought or sold or ordered to be bought or sold, shall each be prima facie evidence that within the meaning of section four there was an intention that there should be no actual purchase or sale, and that there was reasonable cause to believe that said intention existed; and the parties liable to an action under said section shall be jointly and severally liable.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 137 - Gaming › Section 7 - Securities and Commodities; Definitions

Section 7. In the three preceding sections, the word ''securities'' shall include all evidences of debt or property and options for the purchase and sale thereof, shares in any corporation, joint stock company or association, bonds, coupons, scrip, rights, choses in action and other evidences of debt or property and options for the purchase or sale thereof; and the word ''commodities'' shall include everything movable that is bought and sold.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 138 - Alcoholic Liquors › Section 2 - Manufacture and Sale of Alcoholic Beverages

Section 2. No person shall manufacture, with intent to sell, sell or expose or keep for sale, store, transport, import or export alcoholic beverages or alcohol, except as authorized by this chapter; but the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to sales, storage or transportation by a person or public officer under a provision of law which requires him to sell personal property, or to sales, storage or transportation by executors, administrators, receivers and trustees duly authorized by proper judicial order or decree, except that any receiver or trustee in bankruptcy or otherwise appointed by any court, who is authorized by said court to conduct in whole or in part any business, authority to grant a license for which is given by this chapter, or who does conduct any such business in whole or in part, shall be subject to all provisions of the sections under which their licenses were issued and to all other provisions of this chapter applicable to such business the same as if it were conducted by an individual, partnership or corporation. No alcoholic beverage which has been damaged by fire or other casualty may be offered for sale in the commonwealth and any such beverage shall be destroyed by the owner on such terms and conditions as the commission shall determine. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, beer or other malt beverage, which has been determined by the alcoholic beverages control commission, to have been damaged by fire or other casualty shall not be offered for sale in the commonwealth and shall be destroyed by the owner on such terms and conditions as said commission shall determine. Any holder of a license under this chapter may pledge or mortgage to secure a loan or debt any alcoholic beverages or alcohol which he is authorized to sell and the pledgee or mortgagee acting in conformity with the terms of such pledge or mortgage may sell, store and transport such alcoholic beverages or alcohol subject to such conditions and restrictions as the commission may prescribe; provided, that no such pledge or mortgage shall be given or made to a person holding any interest in a business licensed under this chapter. Violation of any provision of this section shall be punished except as provided in section twenty-two by a fine of not less than one hundred nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 138 - Alcoholic Liquors › Section 2a - Sale, Manufacture or Possession of Powdered Alcohol Prohibited; Exceptions

Section 2A. No person shall sell, offer for sale, manufacture or possess powdered alcohol. Whoever violates this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100 or more than $1,000.
This section does not apply to (A) the use of powdered alcohol as an ingredient in non-powdered products or (B) the production of, sale, offering to sell, or delivery, receipt or purchasing for resale, powdered alcohol for the use as an ingredient in non-powdered products.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 138 - Alcoholic Liquors › Section 3 - Manufacture and Storage of Alcoholic Beverages for Private Use

Section 3. This chapter shall not apply to the manufacture or storage of alcoholic beverages by a person for his own private use or to sales of cider at wholesale by the original makers thereof, or to sales of cider by farmers, not to be drunk on the premises, in quantities not exceeding in the aggregate the product of apples raised by them in the season of, or next preceding, such sales, or to sales of cider in any quantity by such farmers not to be drunk on the premises if such cider does not contain more than three per cent of alcohol by weight at sixty degrees Fahrenheit; nor shall this chapter apply to sales of cider by the original makers thereof other than such makers and farmers selling not to be drunk on the premises as aforesaid, if the cider does not contain more than three per cent alcohol as aforesaid, not to be drunk on the premises as aforesaid.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 138 - Alcoholic Liquors › Section 4 - Licensing Boards; Appointments; Membership

Section 4. In each city which is not exempt by the provisions of section ten there shall be a licensing board appointed by the mayor, subject to confirmation by the board of aldermen or, if there is no such board, by the city council, consisting of three persons, who shall not be engaged, directly or indirectly, in the manufacture or sale of alcoholic beverages, who have been residents of the city in which they are appointed for at least two years immediately preceding their appointment. One member shall be appointed from each of the two leading political parties and the third member may also be appointed from one of said parties. If any member of said board engages directly or indirectly in such manufacture or sale, his office shall immediately become vacant.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 138 - Alcoholic Liquors › Section 5 - Terms of Office of Licensing Board; Removal; Review; Notice; Fee

Section 5. The terms of office of the members first appointed shall commence at the date of their appointment, and shall be so arranged as to expire at the end of two, four or six years from the first Monday in June in the year of their appointment, the date of expiration to be specified in their respective commissions; and thereafter a member shall be appointed for a term of six years from the first Monday in June of the year in which the previous term expires. All members shall hold office until their respective successors are qualified. They may be removed by the mayor for cause, after charges preferred, reasonable notice thereof, and a hearing thereon; and the mayor shall, in the order of removal, state his reasons therefor. Any member of said board may, within seven days after notice of his removal, apply to the superior court for a review of the charges, of the evidence submitted thereunder, and of the findings thereon by the mayor. Notice of the entry of such application shall be given to the mayor by serving upon him an attested copy thereof. The entry fee, costs, and all proceedings upon such application shall be according to the rules regulating the trial of civil causes. The court, after a hearing, shall affirm or revoke the order of the mayor removing such member, and there shall be no appeal from the decision.
If any member of said board who has been removed from office shall apply to the superior court for the review provided for in this section, he shall be entitled to a speedy hearing, and in no event shall the removal take effect until the court shall have affirmed the order removing the member; and until such order is affirmed the member shall continue to exercise the powers and perform the duties of his office.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 138 - Alcoholic Liquors › Section 6 - Chairman of Licensing Board; Quorum; Vacancies

Section 6. The mayor shall designate one member as chairman, who shall also act as secretary. Two members shall be a quorum for the transaction of business. If a member ceases to be a resident of the city for which he is appointed or becomes unable to perform his official duties, there shall be a vacancy in the board. All vacancies shall be filled by the mayor for the remainder of the unexpired term in the manner provided for an original appointment.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 138 - Alcoholic Liquors › Section 7 - Offices of Licensing Board; Salaries; Expenses

Section 7. Each city which has such a board shall provide it with suitable rooms, properly furnished, heated and lighted, shall pay such salaries as the city council, subject to the approval of the mayor, may from time to time establish, and shall also pay all expenses incurred by said board for blank books, printing, traveling and other necessary expenses approved by said board.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 138 - Alcoholic Liquors › Section 8 - Limitation of Sec. 7

Section 8. If, at any biennial state election, a city in which such board has been appointed shall not vote to authorize the granting of licenses for the sale of any alcoholic beverages, all obligations imposed upon said city by the preceding section shall cease from and after the thirty-first day of December next following such vote and, from and after said date, the powers and duties granted to and imposed upon said board in respect to such licenses as it is authorized to grant under this chapter irrespective of any vote under section eleven and licenses of innholders and common victuallers shall vest in the aldermen of said city. If said city shall, at a subsequent biennial state election again vote to authorize the granting of licenses for the sale of such beverages, the obligations imposed by the preceding section shall be revived and shall attach to said city from and after January first next following such vote and, from and after said date, the powers and duties of the aldermen relative to such licenses shall revest in the licensing board appointed in said city. This section shall not apply to a city wherein by a special statute such a board is vested with all the powers and duties in respect to the granting of licenses of innholders and common victuallers notwithstanding any vote under this chapter.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 138 - Alcoholic Liquors › Section 9 - Records of Licensing Boards; Quarterly Reports; Sworn Statements

Section 9. Each board shall keep a record of its doings and hearings and shall make a quarterly report of its doings to the mayor. It may require any statement which may be made before it and papers which may be filed with it relative to applications for licenses to be sworn to, and for such purpose any member may administer oaths.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 138 - Alcoholic Liquors › Section 10 - Cities Exempt From Operation of Six Preceding Sections; Residency Requirement of Board or Commission Members

Section 10. The following cities shall be exempt from the operation of the six preceding sections: First, cities having a licensing board or commission created by special statute or under the provisions of a charter. Second, other cities not having a board appointed under the earlier provisions of law antecedent to and corresponding with the provisions of section four or under section three of chapter one hundred and twenty of the acts of nineteen hundred and thirty-three, but if any such city hereafter, at a biennial state election, votes to authorize the granting of licenses for the sale of any alcoholic beverage the board shall, thereupon, not later than the thirty-first day of December following said election, be appointed for such city as above provided, and the provisions of the six preceding sections shall thereafter apply to said city. Members of such licensing boards or commissions shall be residents of the city in which they serve.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 138 - Alcoholic Liquors › Section 10a - Annual Report of Local Licensing Authorities to Commission

Section 10A. The local licensing authorities shall file with the commission, on or before February fifteenth next following a license year in which the granting of licenses for the sale of any alcoholic beverage was authorized, a full report of their action during said license year, with the number of licenses of each class granted, and the revenue thereof, together with the established schedule of fees for all classes of licenses. Said report shall contain a list of all violations of law by licensees which came to their attention, and their actions and findings with reference thereto.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 138 - Alcoholic Liquors › Section 10b - Authority to Declare Office of Member of Board Vacant

Section 10B. The commission shall have authority to declare the office of any member of a licensing board vacant regardless of how he was appointed, if he engages directly or indirectly in the manufacture or sale of alcoholic beverages in the event the local authority fails to act. Any such member affected by action of the commission hereunder shall have the same right of review as is provided in section five in the case of a member removed thereunder.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 138 - Alcoholic Liquors › Section 11a - Submission of Question at Special and Regular Municipal Elections; Petition; Taverns

Section 11A. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the city council of any city and the selectmen of any town shall, upon the filing with the city or town clerk of a petition signed by registered voters of such city or town equal in number to at least one per cent of the whole number of registered voters therein and conforming to the provisions of section thirty-eight of chapter forty-three relative to initiative petitions, requesting that the question of licensing the sale in such city or town of alcoholic beverages in taverns be submitted to the voters thereof, call a special election to be held within a period of sixty days from the filing of such petition, and cause to be so submitted thereat the following question:—
''Shall licenses be granted in this city (or town) for the sale therein of alcoholic beverages in taverns?''
Except as otherwise provided in this section, in any city or town wherein a regular election is about to be held, the city council or selectmen, upon the filing of such a petition at least thirty days before such election, shall cause said question to be submitted to the voters thereof at such election. The foregoing question shall not be submitted to the voters of any city or town under this section oftener than once in two years.
If a majority of the votes cast in such a city or town in answer to the question hereinbefore set forth are in the affirmative, such city or town shall be taken to have authorized the sale therein in taverns of such alcoholic beverages, if any, as are from time to time lawfully authorized to be sold in such city or town, subject in all respects to the provisions of this chapter, but only pending the taking under this section of the next succeeding vote, if any, on such question.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 138 - Alcoholic Liquors › Section 12a - Renewal of Licenses to Conduct Restaurant; Investigations

Section 12A. No license issued under section twelve to conduct a restaurant shall be renewed unless and until the holder thereof shall satisfy the licensing authority that he is in good faith operating a restaurant and that such restaurant is provided with proper equipment for the service of food to travelers and strangers. The licensing authority may at any time make investigation on its own initiative as to the compliance with license requirements.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XX - Public Safety and Good Order › Chapter 138 - Alcoholic Liquors › Section 12b - Operation of Premises Licensed to Sell Alcoholic Beverages; Nudity

Section 12B. In any city or town which accepts the provisions of this section, no licensee, licensed under the provisions of section twelve, shall suffer or permit any person to appear on said licensed premises in any manner or attire as to expose to public view any portion of the pubic area, anus, vulva or genitals, or any simulation thereof, or shall suffer or permit any female to appear on licensed premises in such manner or attire as to expose to view any portion of the breast below the top of the areola, or any simulation thereof. Any violation of the provisions of this section shall be enforced by the alcoholic beverage control commission and the local authorities.