reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIV - Public Ways and Works › Chapter 84 - Repair of Ways and Bridges › Section 27 - Excavations Abutting Public Way; Liability of Owners

Section 27. If, on premises abutting on a public way, an excavation is a hazard to travelers upon such way who are in the exercise of due care, the person in control of such premises shall be liable in tort to any such traveler who, by reason of a want of a sufficient railing or barrier in or upon such excavation or between such excavation and such way, sustains bodily injury or property damage.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIV - Public Ways and Works › Chapter 84 - Repair of Ways and Bridges › Section 27a - Erection of Barriers at Excavations Abutting Public Ways; Duty of Owner; Penalty

Section 27A. The owner of any land which abuts a public way and on which an excavation has been made within fifty feet of said way shall cause a fence or other barrier not less than five feet in height to be erected at the street line of such way. Such fence or barrier shall not be removed until the area abutting such way has been made level with the same for a distance of fifty feet from said street line. Whoever violates any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than two hundred nor more than five 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 1 - Direction Signs; Erection and Maintenance by Cities and Towns

Section 1. Except as otherwise provided in section two, every city and town shall erect and maintain on the ways therein, except state highways and ways under the control of the department of conservation and recreation, at such places as are convenient for the direction of travelers and at forks or intersections of ways which lead to adjoining cities or towns, direction signs, upon which shall be stated the name of the city, town or place to which each such way leads, and the distance to the same.
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 2a - Removal of Vehicles Interfering With Snow and Ice Removal

Section 2A. The department, for the purpose of insuring the free flow of traffic or for the purpose of snow and ice control operations on a state highway, may, by its own employees or with such other assistance as it may require, remove or cause to be removed to the nearest convenient place any vehicle interfering with such traffic or such operation. The department shall keep records of the registration number of each vehicle so removed and of the place to which it was removed.
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 2b - Limited Access and Express State Highways; Regulation of Use

Section 2B. The department for purpose of promoting public safety upon limited access and express state highways, may from time to time make, alter, rescind or add to regulations to exclude, govern and restrict the use of such state highways by horse-drawn vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, and vehicles determined by the department, because of their type or because of materials or products being transported, as unsafe for limited access and express state highways, bridges, tunnels or overhead highway structures, which regulations may provide penalties for the violation thereof not exceeding thirty-five dollars for each offense, excepting regulations prohibiting the transportation of unsafe materials or products, the penalties for violation of which shall not exceed five hundred dollars for each offense. The department for the purpose of promoting public safety and convenience during periods of commuter and holiday traffic, inclement weather conditions or construction activity, or for other good cause, may promulgate rules and regulations limiting the time and hours of travel of vehicles one hundred and two inches in width, semi-trailers of up to and including 53 feet in length when operating in semi-trailer unit and tandem units, as defined in section one of chapter ninety, on the National Network, as defined in section nineteen F of chapter ninety, and routes of reasonable access, as designated by the department under provisions of section nineteen G of chapter ninety, or any parts thereof, and such rules and regulations may provide penalties for the violation thereof not exceeding five hundred dollars for each offense.
The state police, may, during declared weather emergencies order all trucks off of the roads.
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 2c - Towing of Vehicles From State Highways

Section 2C. The department, for the purpose of promoting public safety and convenience, may authorize by any rule or regulation adopted under this section with such limitations, if any, as may be deemed proper, the colonel of state police and the principal police official of the police department of a city or town, or such sergeants or officers of higher rank as said officers or officials may from time to time designate, to remove, to some convenient place, through the agency of a person or persons in the employ of said police or police force, or by an independent contractor selected on the basis of competitive bids, any vehicle, except a vehicle owned by the commonwealth or a political sub-division thereof or by the United States or an instrumentality thereof or registered by a member of a foreign diplomatic corps or by a foreign consular officer who is not a citizen of the United States and bearing a distinctive number plate or otherwise conspicuously marked as so owned or registered, parked or standing on any part of a state highway in such a manner as to impede in any way the removal or plowing of snow or ice or parked or standing in violation of any rule or regulation adopted under section two which prohibits the parking or standing of all vehicles on such highway or portion thereof at such time and recites that whoever violates it shall be liable to charge for the removal and storage of the vehicle as well as subject to punishment by fine. Liability may be imposed for the reasonable cost of such removal, and for the storage charges, if any, resulting therefrom, upon the owner of such vehicle.
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 2d - Signs on State Highways Indicating Availability of Certain Services

Section 2D. The department may, upon application by an interested person or persons and upon payment of an appropriate fee to be established by the department, erect on state highways, signs indicating the availability of gas, food and lodging and telephone or other services convenient to the public. Said signs shall be erected at such locations and shall be of such size and color and contain such wording or symbol as the department deems proper for the public convenience, and such signs shall be maintained by the department. Any sign erected under this section shall not constitute a billboard or other advertising device, as defined in section thirty of chapter ninety-three. The department may make such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
Any fees collected under this section shall be paid over to the state treasurer and credited to the Highway Fund.
Notwithstanding the provisions of section five of chapter thirty A, no rule, regulation, change of regulation, or condition of the public works commission promulgated pursuant to the provisions of this section shall take effect except as hereinafter provided.
A copy of every such rule, regulation or condition shall be filed with the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives and shall be forthwith referred by them to the joint committee on transportation.
Said committee shall file a written report with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives within sixty days after the filing of the copy thereof with said clerks stating whether said rules, regulations and conditions are consistent with the statutory provisions under which they were promulgated.
Said rules, regulations and conditions shall take effect unless disapproved by a majority vote of both branches of the general court sixty days after the filing of the copy thereof with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives unless the general court has prorogued within said sixty days.
If the general court prorogues within sixty days of the filing with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives of such rules, regulations and conditions, said clerks shall refer the same to said committee in the next session of the general court. Said committee shall report as hereinbefore provided, within sixty days of the first day of such session and such rules, regulations and conditions shall take effect sixty days after such first day of such session unless disapproved by a majority vote of both branches of the general court within such sixty days.
The clerks of the senate and house of representatives shall notify the commission of the action taken thereon by the general court.
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 2e - Regulations to Exclude Persons and Vehicles From State Highways; Prohibition of Low-Speed Vehicles on Certain Highways

Section 2E. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 18 of chapter 90, the department for purposes of public safety and convenience may from time to time by regulations exclude persons and vehicles from state highways or portions thereof for such periods as it may deem necessary. The department may by regulation permanently prohibit or limit the operation of a low-speed vehicle, as defined in section 1 of chapter 90, on a state highway or a portion of a state highway, regardless of posted speeds, in the interest of public safety and convenience where it finds that use of the state highway or a particular portion of the state highway by a low-speed motor vehicle would represent an unreasonable risk of death or serious injury to occupants of low-speed vehicles because of general traffic conditions which shall include, but not be limited to, excessive speed of other vehicles, traffic volumes, use of the state highway by heavy trucks or other large vehicles or if the established speed limit on the way increases above 30 miles per hour beyond the point where a low-speed vehicle could safely exit the state highway. The commissioner of highways shall post signs where necessary to provide notice to the public of such prohibited or limited access to low-speed vehicles. Regulations promulgated under this section may provide for a penalty of a fine not more than $75 for a particular violation.
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 3 - Change of Name of Ways or Parks; Appeal

Section 3. When the name of any public way, place or section, or of any public park, is changed by the board or officer having jurisdiction thereof, if the name changed has been in use for twenty-five years or more, there shall be a right of appeal from such action to the department. Said appeal shall be taken within thirty days after such change, and shall be by petition of at least twenty-five inhabitants of the town in which such change has been made, requesting the reversal of such action. Notice of the filing of such petition shall forthwith be filed by the department in the office of the clerk of the town in which the change has been made, and upon the filing of such petition, a public hearing shall be given by said department, after such public notice as it shall determine, and unless the department shall approve of such change, the same shall be of no effect.
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 3a - Approval of Name for Way Other Than Public Way in City or Town

Section 3A. No way in any city or town which is open for public use but has not become a public way shall be given a name unless the same is first approved by its board of survey, or, if there is no such board, its board of aldermen or board of selectmen.
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 3b - Changing of Name of Way

Section 3B. When any way in a city or town which is open for public use but has not become a public way is known by a name, identical with the name of another such way or of a public way in the same city or town, or so similar thereto as, in the opinion of its board of survey, or, if there is no such board, its board of aldermen or board of selectmen, to lead to confusion, said board, after a public hearing thereon of which notice shall be given in the manner provided in section seventy-four of chapter forty-one, may by order change the name of either such way which has not become a public way. Said board shall cause to be placed on each way, the name of which is changed hereunder, at or near each point where any other way enters or unites with it, a suitable sign bearing the name of such way as changed and stating that it is not a public way, and shall cause to be filed in the registry of deeds of the district in which such way is located, and also in case such way is in a city, in the office of the city engineer or, in case it is in a town, in the office of the town clerk, a copy of the order effecting such change signed by the chairman of the board ordering the same. Nothing in this or the preceding section, nor any action taken under and in accordance with either of them, shall impose any additional liability upon any city or town.
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 4 - Construction of Sidewalks by Adjoining Landowners

Section 4. A person owning or occupying land adjoining a public way in a town may construct a sidewalk within such way and along the line of such land, indicating the width of such sidewalk by trees, posts or curbstones set at reasonable distances apart, or by a railing; and, if a sidewalk is so constructed, whoever rides or drives a horse or team upon and along the same shall forfeit one dollar, to be recovered by such owner or occupant in tort. But this section shall not affect the authority of surveyors of highways or of road commissioners, or any other authority which can legally be exercised over ways, or diminish the liability of any person for unreasonably obstructing ways, nor shall it apply to cities.
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 5 - Removal of Snow and Ice From Sidewalks by Abutting Landowners; Penalties

Section 5. Cities by ordinance and towns by by-laws may provide for the removal of snow and ice from sidewalks within such portions of the city or town as they consider expedient by the owner or occupant of land abutting upon such sidewalks. Such ordinances and by-laws shall determine the time and manner of removal and shall affix penalties, not exceeding fifty dollars in the case of a city or ten dollars in the case of a town, for each violation thereof.
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 6 - Assessment of Cost of Removal of Snow and Ice From Sidewalks

Section 6. Any town which accepts this section or has accepted corresponding provisions of earlier laws, may cause the snow and ice to be removed from its permanent sidewalks constructed of brick, stone, cement, concrete or asphalt, and may provide that the assessors may assess upon the estates abutting on said sidewalks, from which snow or ice has thus been removed, the whole or any part of the cost of such removal; and the provisions of chapter eighty relative to the abatement and collection of betterments shall apply to such assessments.
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 7 - Exemption From Assessment by Agreement of Owner to Remove Snow and Ice

Section 7. Any person, or the agent of any person, owning an estate abutting on any sidewalk as aforesaid, may, on or before November first in any year, procure the exemption of such estate from the assessment aforesaid for the following year by a stipulation in writing with the selectmen that he will remove snow and ice from the sidewalk on which the estate abuts, at such time and in such manner as the selectmen or road commissioners shall direct; and if he fails to fulfil his stipulation the assessment above provided for shall be made and collected as if no such stipulation had been made.
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 7b - Depositing Snow on State Highways

Section 7B. No person other than an employee in the service of the commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof or an employee in the service of an independent contractor acting for the commonwealth or any such subdivision shall pile, push or plow snow or ice onto a state highway so as to impede the flow of traffic on such way. Whoever violates this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred and fifty 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 8 - Permits for Signs and Other Structures Projecting Into or Over Ways

Section 8. The municipal board or officer having charge of the laying out of public ways may grant permits for the placing and maintaining of signs, advertising devices, clocks, marquees, public telephones, telephone booths and other appurtenances thereto, permanent awnings and other like structures projecting into or placed on or over public ways in its town or city, and may fix the fees therefor, and may make rules and regulations relating thereto, and prescribe the penalties for a breach of any such rules and regulations, not to be imposed until after five days' notice to remove the same has been given by such board or officer, or by a police officer of the municipality. All such structures shall be constructed, and, when attached to a building, shall be connected therewith, in accordance with the requirements of the inspector of buildings, building commissioner or other board or officer having like authority in the town.
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 9 - Permits; Exemption of Certain Structures

Section 9. The provisions of section eight shall not apply to signs or other structures projecting into or over the way a distance of less than twelve inches, nor to poles, wires, conduits, and appurtenances of railroad, railway, telegraph and telephone, water, gas, electric light, heat and power companies.
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 9a - Flashing Lights on Billboards, etc.; Discontinuance Orders; Penalties; Exceptions

Section 9A. The department, after a public hearing, may order the discontinuance of flashing lights on any billboard, sign or other advertising device, which in its opinion is so situated as to hinder the proper operation of a motor vehicle by distracting the operator's attention. Whoever fails to comply with said order shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days, or both. The provisions of this section shall not be construed so as to prohibit the display of time, weather or other such information. Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict the powers granted to the outdoor advertising board and to the cities and towns under the provisions of section twenty-nine of chapter ninety-three.
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 10 - Regulation of Use of Ways; Penalties

Section 10. Towns may make ordinances and by-laws to prevent the pasturing of cattle or other animals, either with or without a keeper; relative to the passage and driving of sheep, swine and neat cattle; prohibiting persons from riding or driving beasts of burden, carriage or draught, at a rate of speed inconsistent with public safety or convenience; regulating the passage of street cars, or other vehicles, or the use of sleds for coasting; regulating and controlling persons who frequent public places playing on hand organs, drums, trumpets or other musical instruments, upon or through any public way, and may affix penalties of not more than twenty dollars for each violation thereof. They may, by ordinance or by-law, regulate the transportation of the offal of slaughtered animals upon or through any public way and affix a penalty of not more than one hundred dollars for each violation thereof.
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 10a - Coasting on Ways in Cities

Section 10A. Selectmen in towns, and the aldermen or other board or officer having charge of ways in cities, may by regulation designate certain ways or parts of ways, other than state highways, upon which and the hours during which coasting may be permitted and may in like manner regulate the use of such ways by vehicles during such hours.
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 11 - Arrest Without Warrant for Driving at Excessive Speed

Section 11. Whoever violates an ordinance or by-law prohibiting persons from riding or driving at a rate of speed inconsistent with public safety or convenience may be arrested without a warrant by an officer authorized to make arrests and kept in custody not more than twenty-four hours, Sunday excepted; and within such time he shall be brought before a proper magistrate and proceeded against according to law.
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 11b1/2 - Mandatory Helmet Use for Persons 16 Years of Age or Younger

Section 11B1/2. Any person 16 years of age or younger operating in line skates, a skate board, a scooter or other manually-propelled wheeled vehicle or riding as a passenger on any such manually-propelled vehicle on a public way, bicycle path or on any other public right-of-way shall wear a helmet. Such helmet shall fit the person's head and be secured by straps at all times while operating in line skates, scooters, skate board or other manually-propelled wheeled vehicle and shall meet the standards for helmets established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z 90.4) or subsequent standards or the Snell Memorial Foundation's 1984 standard for use in bicycling or subsequent standards. A violation of this section shall not be used as evidence of contributory negligence in a civil action.
A city or town shall not adopt any by-laws or ordinances to change the standards required by this section.
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 11b3/4 - Electric Bicycles; Rights, Privileges, Duties; Regulations

Section 11B3/4. (a) For the purposes of this section, the term ''electric bicycle'' shall have the same meaning as in section 1 of chapter 90 and the terms ''bike path'' and ''bikeway'' shall have the same meanings as in section 1 of chapter 90E.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, an electric bicycle or an operator of an electric bicycle shall be afforded all of the rights and privileges, and shall be subject to all of the duties, of the operator of a bicycle or duties related to a bicycle set forth in sections 11B and 11B1/2, any general or special law, regulation or local ordinance; provided, however, that electric bicycles shall not be ridden or operated on sidewalks.
(c) A municipality, local authority or state agency with jurisdiction over a bike path or bikeway after public notice and a public hearing may adopt ordinances or regulations prohibiting or otherwise regulating the operation of electric bicycles on such paths, including, but not limited to, the imposition of speed limits.
(d) An electric bicycle shall not be operated on a trail designated for nonmotorized traffic, that a municipality, local authority or state agency has jurisdiction over, if such trail has a natural surface tread made by clearing and grading the soil and no surfacing materials have been added; provided, however, that a municipality, local authority or state agency after public notice and a public hearing may adopt ordinances or regulations permitting or otherwise regulating the use of electric bicycles on such a trail within its jurisdiction, including, but not limited to, the imposition of speed limits.
(e) Electric bicycles shall comply with the equipment and manufacturing requirements for bicycles adopted by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.
(f) Manufacturers and distributors of electric bicycles shall apply a label that shall be permanently affixed, in a prominent location, to each electric bicycle containing the classification number, top assisted speed and motor wattage of the electric bicycle.
(g) No person shall tamper with or modify an electric bicycle so as to change the motor-powered speed capability or engagement of an electric bicycle, unless the person appropriately replaces the label required by subsection (f).
(h) The secretary of transportation may promulgate regulations for electric bicycles in the commonwealth, including, but not limited, to their safe operation and proper labeling. The secretary shall submit any such proposed regulations to the clerks of the house of representatives and senate and the joint committee on transportation not later than 30 days prior to their effective date.
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 11d - Bicycle Helmets; Display of Sign Requiring Use

Section 11D. Every person engaged in the retail business of selling or renting bicycles, in line skates, scooters, skate boards or other manually-propelled wheeled vehicles shall display in an area conspicuous to customers of the business a sign containing the following statement: Massachusetts law requires that a bicycle helmet be worn by a person 16 years of age or under who is riding as an operator or passenger on a bicycle, in line skates, a scooter, or a skate board.
By posting such a sign, such retail business shall be deemed to be in full compliance with this act, and no liability shall be incurred in the event that said helmet is not worn. A person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of renting bicycles shall make available a bicycle helmet conforming to the specifications for bicycle helmets of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission to each person renting a bicycle.
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 11e - Traffic Law Violations by Bicyclist

Section 11E. A police officer who observes a traffic law violation committed by a bicyclist may request the offender to state his true name and address. Whoever, upon such request, refuses to state his name and address or whoever states a false name and address or a name and address which is not his name and address in ordinary use, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $20 nor more than $50. An offender who refuses to state his true name and address may be arrested without a warrant for such refusal but no person shall be arrested without a warrant for any other traffic law violation committed while operating a bicycle. A police officer shall use the ticketing procedure described in chapter 90C to cite a bicyclist for a traffic law violation but the violation shall not affect the status of the bicyclist's license to operate a motor vehicle nor shall it affect the bicyclist's status in the safe driver insurance plan. When a citation is issued to a bicyclist, it shall be clearly indicated on the ticket that the violator is a bicyclist, and failure to do so shall be a defense to the violation.
The parent or guardian of a person under 18 years of age shall not authorize or knowingly permit that person to violate this section. A violation of this section by a person under 18 years of age shall not affect any civil right or liability nor shall the violation be a criminal offense. If the offender is under 16 years of age, the officer may give the notice to the parent or guardian of the offender.
All fines collected by a city or town pursuant to this section shall be used by the city or town for the development and implementation of bicycle safety programs.
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 14b - Flares; Use by Certain Commercial Vehicles

Section 14B. Whenever any commercial vehicle having a gross weight in excess of five thousand pounds other than a motor bus or taxicab, or any automobile service truck, so called, becomes disabled or stops to load or unload any motorized equipment from such vehicle or from a trailer upon the traveled portion of any street or highway the operator of such vehicle shall, during the time when lights are required to be displayed on motor vehicles, place three flares on the traveled part of the way in the following positions:— one flare in the center of the traffic lane in which such disabled vehicle remains and distant approximately one hundred feet from such vehicle in the direction of traffic approaching in that lane; one flare not less than one hundred feet from such vehicle in the opposite direction in said lane; and one flare at the traffic side of such vehicle, not nearer than ten feet from the front or rear of such vehicle; provided, that if such vehicle is disabled or stopped to load or unload any motorized equipment from such vehicle or from a trailer upon the traveled portion of any street or highway within three hundred feet of a curve, crest of a hill, or other place where the view of such vehicle is obstructed, the flare in that direction shall be so placed as to afford ample warning to other persons using such way, and in no case less than one hundred feet, nor more than three hundred feet, from the disabled vehicle. The word ''flare'' as used in this section shall mean either a lighted pot torch, a lighted red electric lamp, or a warning device meeting the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 125.
Every motor vehicle to which this section applies, when operated on any street or highway, shall carry at all times not less than three flares in a position where they are easily accessible to any person desiring to use the same and to any officer or official authorized to inspect said vehicle.
Violation of any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars and, in addition, the registrar of motor vehicles may, in the case of a motor vehicle not equipped as provided by this section, suspend for not more than fifteen days the certificate of registration of such vehicle. This section shall not apply to street railway cars and trackless trolley vehicles.
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 15 - Lights on Vehicles

Section 15. A vehicle, whether stationary or in motion, on a public way, shall have attached to it headlights and taillights which shall be turned on by the vehicle operator and so displayed as to be visible from the front and rear during the period of 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise; provided, however, that such headlights and taillights shall be turned on by the vehicle operator at all other times when, due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, visibility is reduced such that persons or vehicles on the roadway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 500 feet or when the vehicle's windshield wipers are needed; provided further, that this section shall not apply to a vehicle which is designed to be propelled by hand; and provided further, that a vehicle carrying hay or straw for the purpose of transporting persons on a hayride shall display only electrically operated lights which shall be 2 flashing amber lights to the front and 2 flashing red lights to the rear, each of which shall be at least 6 inches in diameter and mounted 6 feet from the ground. Upon the written application of the owner of a vehicle and the presentation of reasons therefor the department may, in writing, in such form and subject to such requirements as it may elect, and without expense to the applicant, exempt said vehicle from the provisions of this section for such period of time as said department may elect. A violation of this section shall not be deemed to be a conviction of a moving violation of the motor vehicle laws for the purpose of determining surcharges on motor vehicle insurance premiums pursuant to section 113B of chapter 175.
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 16 - Duty of Driver at Night to Give Name to Officer on Request

Section 16. Every person shall while driving or in charge of or occupying a vehicle during the period from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise, when requested by a police officer, give his true name and address.
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 17 - Penalty for Violation of Sec. 15 or 16

Section 17. Whoever violates any of the provisions of section fifteen or section sixteen shall be punished by a fine of not more than five dollars. The driver or custodian of a vehicle shall be deemed to be the party responsible therefor and shall be liable to the foregoing penalty.
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 17a - Soliciting From Vehicles on Public Ways

Section 17A. Whoever, for the purpose of soliciting any alms, contribution or subscription or of selling any merchandise, except newspapers, or ticket of admission to any game, show, exhibition, fair, ball, entertainment or public gathering, signals a moving vehicle on any public way or causes the stopping of a vehicle thereon, or accosts any occupant of a vehicle stopped thereon at the direction of a police officer or signal man, or of a signal or device for regulating traffic, shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars. Whoever sells or offers for sale any item except newspapers within the limits of a state highway boundary without a permit issued by the department shall for the first offense be punished by a fine of fifty dollars and for each subsequent offense shall be punished by a fine of one hundred dollars. Notwithstanding the provisions of the first sentence of this section, on any city or town way which is not under jurisdiction of the department, the chief of police of a city or town may issue a permit to nonprofit organizations to solicit on said ways in conformity with the rules and regulations established by the police department of said city or town.
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 17b - Riding on Rear or Side of Street Railway Car, Motor Bus or Trackless Trolley

Section 17B. Whoever rides upon the rear or side of any street railway car, motor bus, or trackless trolley vehicle without the consent of the person in charge thereof 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 85 - Regulations and By-Laws Relative to Ways and Bridges › Section 18 - Moving of Buildings in Public Way

Section 18. No person shall move a building in a public way without written permission from the selectmen or road commissioners, to be granted upon such terms as in their opinion the public safety may require; and the superior court shall have jurisdiction in equity to enforce this section.
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 19 - Leading, Driving, or Conveying Dangerous Wild Animals on Public Ways

Section 19. Whoever leads or drives a bear or other dangerous wild animal or causes it to travel upon or be conveyed over a public way unless properly secured in some covered vehicle or cage shall be punished by a fine of not less than five nor more than twenty dollars. Any such animal which is found upon a public way not so secured or caged may be killed by a sheriff, constable or police officer.
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 20 - Regulation of Speed on County Bridges

Section 20. The county commissioners may establish by-laws regulating the speed at which persons may ride or drive over any bridge in their county which has cost not less than one thousand dollars and which was constructed or is maintained in whole or in part by said county, except bridges controlled by the commonwealth, and may affix penalties not exceeding two dollars for a breach thereof.
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 21 - Regulation of Speed on Town Bridges

Section 21. A town may establish ordinances or by-laws to prohibit persons from riding or driving horses at a rate faster than a walk over any bridge within its limits which has cost not less than five hundred dollars, and may affix penalties not exceeding one dollar for a breach thereof.
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 21a - Warning Signs on State Highways for Protection of School Children

Section 21A. Subject to the provisions of section two, cities and towns are hereby authorized to erect and maintain on state and town and city highways such warning signs, lights or markings as are necessary for the protection of school children; provided, however, that, subject to compliance with the department's specifications and standards, figures or objects may be placed or erected on such ways by cities and towns at school crossings for the protection of school children without the approval of the department.
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 22 - Regulation of Speed on Incorporated Bridges

Section 22. The proprietors of an incorporated bridge may make by-laws to prohibit persons from riding or driving horses over such bridge at a rate faster than a walk; and may affix penalties not exceeding two dollars for each offence, to be recovered to the use of the corporation.
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 23 - Regulation of Travel on State Ways; Penalties

Section 23. The governor, with the advice and consent of the council, may make by-laws for the regulation of travel on ways belonging to the commonwealth. Whoever violates any such by-law shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty 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 24 - Posting of Regulations on Bridges

Section 24. No person shall be liable to penalty under the four preceding sections for violation of a by-law relating to travel on a bridge, unless a white board containing in black letters the substance of said by-law is kept posted in a conspicuous place at each end of the bridge.
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 26 - Drawbridges

Section 26. The department, county commissioners or any city or town in which a draw for the passage of vessels through a bridge used as a way and maintained at the public expense is situated, whichever has control of said bridge, may make ordinances or by-laws regulating the passage of vessels through such draw, not inconsistent with the regulations of the United States on tide water bridges, and may affix penalties not exceeding fifty dollars for each violation thereof; but no such ordinance or by-law shall take effect until approved by the department.
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 27 - Duties of Draw Tender

Section 27. When such ordinances or by-laws have been approved, the department, county commissioners or the city or town shall place said draw under the direction of a suitable draw tender, and shall post a copy of such ordinances or by-laws in some conspicuous place near by. Such draw tender shall have full control of the passing of vessels through the draw, shall furnish all facilities for such passing, shall allow no detention, having due regard for the public travel, and shall enforce the ordinances or by-laws aforesaid.
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 28 - Liability of Owners of Vessel for Injury to Bridge

Section 28. If a vessel, through the negligence of the persons having it in charge, or through their neglect to comply with such ordinances or by-laws, or disregard of the directions of such draw tender, injures a bridge or draw, or a pier or wharf connected therewith, the owner of such vessel shall be liable to the individual or body politic or corporate having control of said bridge, for the damage, to be recovered in tort.
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 29 - Removal of Vessel Obstructing Draw

Section 29. Such draw tender may remove a vessel which obstructs such draw, or interferes with the passage of other vessels through the same, or is made fast, without his consent, to such draw or bridge or to a pier or wharf connected therewith, or the persons in charge of which wilfully violate any such ordinance or by-law; and the expense of such removal may be recovered by the commonwealth, county, city or town.
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 31 - Speed of Heavy Vehicles With Metallic Tires

Section 31. No vehicle which with its load weighs more than four tons shall, when equipped with metallic tires, travel upon any public way at a speed greater than four miles an hour.
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 32 - Penalties for Violations of Secs. 30, 30a, and 31

Section 32. Any person violating any provision of section thirty, thirty A, or thirty-one, or the regulations made or permits granted under authority thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars, to be paid to the commonwealth when state highways are injured and to the county, city or town when any public way is injured which is under the care of said county, city or town, for use on the public ways of said county, city or town.
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 33 - Scope of Secs. 30 to 32

Section 33. Nothing in sections thirty to thirty-two, inclusive, shall affect the liability of the commonwealth or of any county, city, or town to pay for any damage or injury to any person or property.
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 34 - Protection of Bridges From Heavy Loads

Section 34. Except as otherwise provided in the following section, the department, person or local authorities having control of any bridge constructed prior to June first, nineteen hundred and sixty on any road shall maintain notices not less than one hundred feet from each end of such bridge, legible at a distance of fifty feet, stating the maximum weight of vehicle with load which the bridge will safely carry. The said department, person or local authorities may in addition maintain such notices at all other bridges constructed after June first, nineteen hundred and sixty.