reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIV - Public Ways and Works › Chapter 85 - Regulations and By-Laws Relative to Ways and Bridges › Section 35 - Approval by Department of Public Works of Construction of Highway Bridges; Liability for Damages to Bridges

Section 35. No bridge on a public highway having a span in excess of ten feet, except a bridge constructed under the provisions of chapter one hundred and fifty-nine, shall be constructed or reconstructed by any county or town except in accordance with plans and specifications therefor approved by the department. Said department shall approve or alter to meet its approval all such plans submitted to it and shall determine the maximum load which any such bridge may safely carry, and the department or the local authorities having control of such bridge shall, if such bridge was constructed prior to June first, nineteen hundred and sixty, and may, if such bridge was constructed at a later date, maintain notices not less than one hundred feet from each end thereof and legible at a distance of fifty feet stating the maximum weight of vehicle with load which the bridge will safely carry. Any such bridge which is not posted for the said maximum weight by June first, nineteen hundred and seventy-five, shall immediately thereafter be posted by the department or the local authorities having control of such bridge with signs placed as provided herein restricting travel across such bridge to vehicles weighing three tons or less. Each such bridge so restricted shall be reported forthwith to the department, and the department shall maintain a current list of all such bridges. The owner of a vehicle operated on any bridge posted under this or the preceding section shall be responsible for all damage resulting thereto if the weight of the vehicle and load exceeds the maximum load as posted under this or the preceding section, as the case may be, and the amount of the damage may be recovered in an action at law by the person or authorities charged with the maintenance of the bridge. Any person operating a vehicle the weight of which, with its load, exceeds the maximum weight as posted under this section or section thirty-four shall be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred dollars, unless said vehicle is being operated in accordance with the terms of a special permit issued under the provisions of sections thirty and thirty A.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIV - Public Ways and Works › Chapter 85 - Regulations and By-Laws Relative to Ways and Bridges › Section 36 - Construction and Loading of Vehicles to Prevent Dropping of Load on Way; Penalty

Section 36. No person shall drive or move a motor vehicle on any way, as defined in section one of chapter ninety, nor shall the owner or bailee of any vehicle require or permit the same to be driven or moved on any such way, unless such vehicle is constructed or loaded so as to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking or otherwise escaping therefrom, and, if it is loaded with sand, gravel, loam, dirt, stone, rubbish or debris that could fall on other vehicles or on the highway and create litter or potential hazards to other vehicles, unless its load is fully and adequately covered. This section shall not prohibit the dropping of sand for the purpose of securing traction, or the sprinkling of water or other substance on such a way in cleaning or maintaining the same. Whoever violates the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty nor more than two hundred dollars.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIV - Public Ways and Works › Chapter 85 - Regulations and By-Laws Relative to Ways and Bridges › Section 37 - Indemnity Provision in Motor Carrier Transportation Contracts Void and Unenforceable

Section 37. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any provision, clause, covenant or agreement contained in a motor carrier transportation contract that purports to indemnify, defend or hold harmless, or has the effect of indemnifying, defending or holding harmless, an indemnitee from or against any liability for loss or damage resulting from such indemnitee's negligence or intentional acts or omissions shall be void and unenforceable. For the purposes of this section, ''motor carrier transportation contract'' shall mean a contract, agreement or understanding entered into, renewed, modified or extended on or after July 1, 2012, concerning (i) the transportation of property for compensation or hire; (ii) the entry on public or private property for the purpose of loading, unloading or transporting property for compensation or hire; or (iii) a service incidental to the activities under clauses (i) and (ii); provided however, that ''motor carrier transportation contract'' shall not include the Uniform Intermodal Interchange and Facilities Access Agreement administered by the Intermodal Association of North America or other agreements providing for the interchange, use or possession of intermodal chassis or containers or other intermodal equipment.
2023 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 1 - Erection of Monuments

Section 1. The aldermen, selectmen or road commissioners shall cause permanent bounds to be erected at the termini and angles of all ways laid out by them. Such bounds shall be of stone, Portland cement or concrete not less than three feet long, two feet of which at least shall be set in the ground, or of stone not less than three feet long with holes drilled therein and filled with lead placed a few inches below the traveled part of the way, or if stone, Portland cement or concrete bounds are impracticable, a heap of stones, a living tree, a permanent rock, or the corner of a building, or such other permanent bounds as said officers may determine.
2023 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 2 - Buildings or Fences as Boundaries

Section 2. If buildings or fences have been erected and continued for more than twenty years, fronting upon or against a highway, town way, private way, training field, burying place, landing place, street, lane or alley, or other land appropriated for the general use or convenience of the inhabitants of the commonwealth, or of a county, city, town or parish, and from the length of time or otherwise the boundaries thereof are not known and cannot be made certain by the records or by monuments, such buildings or fences shall be taken to be the true boundaries thereof.
2023 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 3 - Encroachment on Public Ways

Section 3. If the boundaries of a public way are known or can be made certain by records or monuments, no length of possession, or occupancy of land within the limits thereof, by the owner or occupant of adjoining land shall give him any title thereto, unless it has been acquired prior to May twenty-sixth, nineteen hundred and seventeen, and any fences, buildings or other obstructions encroaching upon such way shall, upon written notice from the county commissioners or board or officer having authority over ways in towns, be forthwith removed by the owner or occupant of adjoining land, and if not so removed said commissioners, board or officer may cause the same to be removed upon said adjoining land.
2023 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 4 - Removal of Encroachments

Section 4. If such building, fence or other encumbrance is adjudged a nuisance and ordered to be abated, the materials may be sold at auction and the proceeds applied to the payment of the expenses of the prosecution and removal, and, if insufficient, the court may order the remainder to be raised and levied upon the property of the defendant.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIV - Public Ways and Works › Chapter 88 - Ferries, Canals and Public Landings › Section 14 - Laying Out or Alteration of Common Landing Places; Erection and Maintenance of Structures Thereon

Section 14. In every city or town where the tide ebbs and flows there shall be provided on a tidal shore thereof at least one common landing place and where no common landing place exists the city council or board of selectmen shall lay out at least one common landing place and may from time to time alter the same, but the layout or alteration of such landing place shall not extend below low water mark. In any such city or town the city council or board of selectmen may, upon petition of ten or more voters of the city or town, lay out additional common landing places and alter the same or those already existing, but no layout or alteration of such landing place shall extend below low water mark. All the provisions of law relating to the laying out and alteration of town ways shall apply to the laying out or alteration of common landing places. Any person who is damaged in his property by such laying out or alteration may recover damages under chapter seventy-nine. In any city or town where a common landing place exists or where a layout or alteration is made in accordance with the provisions of this section, the city council or board of selectmen shall file a plan and a description of each such common landing place or layout or alteration with the city clerk or town clerk, with the county commissioners of the county where said city or town is located, and with the department of environmental management and shall record the same in the registry of deeds for said county. A city or town may erect and maintain structures on any such common landing place in keeping with the public nature thereof, but any such structures extending into tidewater shall be subject to the provisions of chapter ninety-one. The city council or board of selectmen shall make rules and regulations governing the operation and use of structures on a common landing place and may appoint a custodian thereof and fix his salary, or it may, on behalf of the city or town, lease said structures.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIV - Public Ways and Works › Chapter 88 - Ferries, Canals and Public Landings › Section 15 - Failure to Lay Out; Appeal to County Commissioners

Section 15. Any person aggrieved by the failure of the selectmen of a town to lay out suitable landing places therein, after petition therefor, or by the failure of a town to accept a common landing place laid out by the selectmen, may, if an inhabitant of such town or of an adjoining town, within six months after such petition to the selectmen or after such failure of the town, appeal by petition in writing to the county commissioners, who, unless sufficient cause to the contrary is shown, may lay out suitable common landing places, or may approve a landing place laid out by the selectmen, and may direct the laying out of such landing places to be recorded by the clerk of the town, and such laying out or approval shall have the same effect as a laying out by the selectmen and an acceptance by the town. The proceedings of the county commissioners upon such an appeal shall, so far as is practicable, be the same as those provided by law in regard to the laying out of highways by county commissioners.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIV - Public Ways and Works › Chapter 88 - Ferries, Canals and Public Landings › Section 16 - Ascertainment of Location of Common Landing Place

Section 16. Upon the representation of ten or more inhabitants of a county to the county commissioners that the exact location of a common landing place in such county cannot be readily ascertained, they shall, after giving the notice required in laying out highways, ascertain the correct location of such landing place, erect the necessary bounds thereof and make a record thereof as in laying out highways.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIV - Public Ways and Works › Chapter 88 - Ferries, Canals and Public Landings › Section 17 - Discontinuance; Appeal

Section 17. A town at a meeting called for the purpose may discontinue any common landing place laid out under this chapter. Any resident of the town, or of an adjoining town aggrieved by such discontinuance may, within six months thereafter, appeal to the county commissioners, who shall give notice to the clerk of the town in which such landing place is situated, and to the clerks of every adjoining town, of a hearing on such appeal and of the time and place appointed therefor, at least thirty days before the time appointed for the hearing, and they shall also cause copies of the petition, or abstracts thereof, and of the notice, to be posted in two public places in each of said towns, and to be published three weeks successively in such newspaper as they shall order; the posting and the last publication to be fourteen days at least before any view, hearing or adjudication on such appeal. The proceedings of the county commissioners shall, so far as is practicable, be in accordance with the law regarding the discontinuance of a way by county commissioners, and the decision of the county commissioners shall be final.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIV - Public Ways and Works › Chapter 88 - Ferries, Canals and Public Landings › Section 18 - Recognizance for Costs

Section 18. Before any action is taken upon an appeal under section fifteen or seventeen the appellants shall cause a sufficient recognizance to be given to the county, with sureties to the satisfaction of the county commissioners, for the payment of all costs and expenses to the county which shall arise by reason of the proceedings on such appeal, if the appellants do not prevail.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIV - Public Ways and Works › Chapter 88 - Ferries, Canals and Public Landings › Section 19 - Use of Common Landing Places

Section 19. The city council of a city and the selectmen of a town may make rules and regulations concerning the use of a common landing place laid out under this chapter; provided, that no such rule or regulation shall be effective unless it shall have been published in one or more newspapers, if there be any published in the city or town in which the public landing is located, otherwise in one or more newspapers published in the county in which the city or town is situated. Any person convicted of a violation of any such rule or regulation shall be punished by a fine of not more than twenty dollars.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIV - Public Ways and Works › Chapter 89 - Law of the Road › Section 1 - Meeting Vehicles

Section 1. When persons traveling with vehicles meet on a way, each shall reasonably drive his vehicle to the right of the middle of the traveled part of such way, so that the vehicles may pass without interference, except that the department of highways may modify such restriction by pavement markings on state highways, on ways leading thereto and on all main highways between cities and towns. The department may by permit, revocable upon notice, authorize cities and towns to modify such restriction by pavement markings. All markings shall be in accordance with accepted standards of engineering practice, as provided in section two of chapter eighty-five.
The provisions of this section shall not be construed as prohibiting a vehicle from crossing a solid center pavement marking line or lines in making a left turn into or from a private way.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIV - Public Ways and Works › Chapter 89 - Law of the Road › Section 2 - Passing Vehicle Traveling in Same Direction

Except as herein otherwise provided, the driver of a vehicle passing another vehicle traveling in the same direction shall drive a safe distance to the left of such other vehicle and shall not return to the right until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle; and, if the way is of sufficient width for the two vehicles to pass, the driver of the leading one shall not unnecessarily obstruct the other. If it is not possible to overtake a vulnerable user, as defined in section 1 of chapter 90, or other vehicle at a safe distance in the same lane, the overtaking vehicle shall use all or part of an adjacent lane, crossing the centerline if necessary, when it is safe to do so and while adhering to the roadway speed limit. Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle on visible signal and shall not increase the speed of his vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle.
The driver of a vehicle may, if the roadway is free from obstruction and of sufficient width for two or more lines of moving vehicles, overtake and pass upon the right of another vehicle when the vehicle overtaken is (a) making or about to make a left turn, (b) upon a one-way street, or (c) upon any roadway on which traffic is restricted to one direction of movement.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIV - Public Ways and Works › Chapter 89 - Law of the Road › Section 4 - Keeping to Right While View Obstructed

Section 4. Whenever on any way, public or private, there is not an unobstructed view of the road for at least four hundred feet, the driver of every vehicle shall keep his vehicle on the right of the middle of the traveled part of the way, whenever it is safe and practicable so to do, except that the department of highways may alter this provision by the use of restrictive pavement markings in areas of limited sight distance, at intersections and at obstructions in the highway, on state highways, on ways leading thereto and on all main highways between cities and towns; and may by permit, revocable upon notice, authorize cities and towns to alter said provision by the use of such restrictive pavement markings; provided, that such markings shall be in accordance with accepted standards of engineering practice; but, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, every driver of a slow moving vehicle, while ascending a grade shall reasonably keep said vehicle in the extreme right-hand lane until the top of such grade has been reached.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIV - Public Ways and Works › Chapter 89 - Law of the Road › Section 4a - Driving Vehicles in a Single Lane; Motorcycles, Riding and Passing

Section 4A. When any way has been divided into lanes, the driver of a vehicle shall so drive that the vehicle shall be entirely within a single lane, and he shall not move from the lane in which he is driving until he has first ascertained if such movement can be made with safety. The operators of motorcycles shall not ride abreast of more than one other motorcycle, shall ride single file when passing, and shall not pass any other motor vehicle within the same lane, except another motorcycle.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIV - Public Ways and Works › Chapter 89 - Law of the Road › Section 4b - Driving in Lane Nearest Right Side of Way

Section 4B. Upon all ways the driver of a vehicle shall drive in the lane nearest the right side of the way when such lane is available for travel, except when overtaking another vehicle or when preparing for a left turn. When the right lane has been constructed or designated for purposes other than ordinary travel, a driver shall drive his vehicle in the lane adjacent to the right lane except when overtaking another vehicle or when preparing for a left or right turn; provided, however, that a driver may drive his vehicle in such right lane if signs have been erected by the department of highways permitting the use of such lane.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIV - Public Ways and Works › Chapter 89 - Law of the Road › Section 4c - Heavy Trucks; Driving in Right-Hand Lane on Multi-Lane Highways

Section 4C. On any highway with more than one passing lane in the same direction, heavy commercial vehicles, except buses, shall be restricted in ordinary operation to the right-hand travel lane, and in overtaking and passing shall be restricted to the next adjacent passing or travel lane, and shall not use any other lanes except in an emergency. For the purpose of this section, heavy commercial vehicles shall be defined as those in excess of two and one half tons used for transportation of goods, wares, and merchandise.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIV - Public Ways and Works › Chapter 89 - Law of the Road › Section 4d - Standing or Parking of Motor Vehicle in a Designated Bike Lane

Section 4D. The operator of a motor vehicle shall not stand or park the vehicle upon an on-street path or lane designated by an official sign or marking for the exclusive use of bicycles, except in a case of emergency.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIV - Public Ways and Works › Chapter 89 - Law of the Road › Section 5 - Penalty; Exceptions

Section 5. Whoever violates any of the provisions of sections one to four C, inclusive, except as otherwise provided herein, shall, upon complaint made within three months after the commission of the offense, forfeit not more than one hundred dollars and whoever drives in the right lane which has been constructed or designated for purposes other than ordinary travel as set forth in section four B shall, upon complaint made within three months after the commission of the offense, forfeit not more than one hundred dollars. Whoever violates section 4D shall, upon complaint made within 3 months after the commission of the offense, forfeit not more than $50.
Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, the provisions of sections one to 4D, inclusive, shall not apply to a person acting in conformity with the direction of a police officer or to a driver of a vehicle actually engaged in authorized work upon a highway under construction, repair or during maintenance operations when the nature of the work necessitates a departure from normal operational practices or to any operator of a motor vehicle when construction or repair is being performed which prohibits passage in the ordinary travel lane or lanes on a highway.
A violation of section 4D shall not be considered a conviction of a moving violation of the motor vehicle laws for the purpose of determining a surcharge on a motor vehicle premium pursuant to section 113B of chapter 175.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIV - Public Ways and Works › Chapter 89 - Law of the Road › Section 6 - Applicability of Rules of Road to Street Railway Cars

Section 6. In construing rules, by-laws and regulations concerning the use and operation of vehicles on ways, street railway cars or other cars moving upon rails shall not be considered to be vehicles within the provisions of the five preceding sections, unless it is expressly so provided.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIV - Public Ways and Works › Chapter 89 - Law of the Road › Section 6a - Stopping of Street Railway Cars for Passage of Fire Apparatus

Section 6A. Every motorman of a car upon a street railway shall, upon the approach of any fire apparatus going to a fire or responding to an alarm, immediately stop said car and keep the same at a standstill until such apparatus has passed. Violation of any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIV - Public Ways and Works › Chapter 89 - Law of the Road › Section 7 - Right of Way of Fire Engines, Patrol Vehicles and Ambulances; Obstruction; Penalties

Section 7. The members and apparatus of a fire department while going to a fire or responding to an alarm, police patrol vehicles and ambulances, and ambulances on a call for the purpose of hospitalizing a sick or injured person shall have the right of way through any street, way, lane or alley. Whoever wilfully obstructs or retards the passage of any of the foregoing in the exercise of such right shall be punished by a fine of fifty dollars or by imprisonment for not more than three months for the first offense and by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for up to one year for a second and subsequent offenses; provided, however, that for a third or subsequent offense the court or the registry of motor vehicles, in addition to any such fine or imprisonment, may suspend the license of the person so convicted and may order mandatory classroom retraining in motor vehicle and traffic laws.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIV - Public Ways and Works › Chapter 89 - Law of the Road › Section 7a - Restrictions on Use of Ways Upon Approach of Emergency Vehicles

Section 7A. Upon the approach of any fire apparatus, police vehicle, ambulance or disaster vehicle which is going to a fire or responding to call, alarm or emergency situation, every person driving a vehicle on a way shall immediately drive said vehicle as far as possible toward the right-hand curb or side of said way and shall keep the same at a standstill until such fire apparatus, police vehicle, ambulance or disaster vehicle has passed. No person shall drive a vehicle over a hose of a fire department without the consent of a member of such department. No person shall drive a vehicle within three hundred feet of any fire apparatus going to a fire or responding to an alarm, nor drive said vehicle, or park or leave the same unattended, within eight hundred feet of a fire or within the fire lanes established by the fire department, or upon or beside any traveled way, whether public or private, leading to the scene of a fire, in such a manner as to obstruct the approach to the fire of any fire apparatus or any ambulance, safety or police vehicle, or of any vehicle bearing an official fire or police department designation. Authorized police or fire department personnel may tow a vehicle found to be in violation of the provisions of this section or which is illegally parked or standing in a fire lane as established by the fire department, whether or not a fire is in progress, and such personnel shall not be subject to the provisions of section one hundred and twenty D of chapter two hundred and sixty-six. No person shall operate a motor vehicle behind any such fire apparatus, ambulance, safety or police vehicle, or any vehicle bearing an official fire or police department designation which is operating with emergency systems on, for a distance of three hundred feet. Violation of any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.