Massachusetts

Massachusetts General Laws — Part I, Title XIV, Motor Vehicles

498 sections, each with the official text and a plain-English explanation of what it means for you.

• § 85:1 — Direction signs; erection and maintenance by cities and towns
• § 85:10 — Regulation of use of ways; penalties
• § 85:10A — Coasting on ways in cities
• § 85:11 — Arrest without warrant for driving at excessive speed
• § 85:11B — Bicycles; operation and equipment; regulations; federal product safety standards, effect; races; violations; penalties
• § 85:11D — Bicycle helmets; display of sign requiring use
• § 85:11E — Traffic law violations by bicyclist
• § 85:14A — Funeral processions
• § 85:14B — Flares; use by certain commercial vehicles
• § 85:15 — Lights on vehicles
• § 85:16 — Duty of driver at night to give name to officer on request
• § 85:17 — Penalty for violation of Sec. 15 or 16
• § 85:17A — Soliciting from vehicles on public ways
• § 85:17B — Riding on rear or side of street railway car, motor bus or trackless trolley
• § 85:18 — Moving of buildings in public way
• § 85:19 — Leading, driving, or conveying dangerous wild animals on public ways
• § 85:2 — Traffic signs or devices; erection and maintenance; rules and regulations
• § 85:20 — Regulation of speed on county bridges
• § 85:21 — Regulation of speed on town bridges
• § 85:21A — Warning signs on state highways for protection of school children
• § 85:22 — Regulation of speed on incorporated bridges
• § 85:23 — Regulation of travel on state ways; penalties
• § 85:24 — Posting of regulations on bridges
• § 85:25 — Jurisdiction of district court over bridges
• § 85:26 — Drawbridges
• § 85:27 — Duties of draw tender
• § 85:28 — Liability of owners of vessel for injury to bridge
• § 85:29 — Removal of vessel obstructing draw
• § 85:2A — Removal of vehicles interfering with snow and ice removal
• § 85:2B — Limited access and express state highways; regulation of use
• § 85:2C — Towing of vehicles from state highways
• § 85:2D — Signs on state highways indicating availability of certain services
• § 85:2E — Regulations to exclude persons and vehicles from state highways; prohibition of low-speed vehicles on certain highways
• § 85:3 — Change of name of ways or parks; appeal
• § 85:30 — Injury to surface of way; traction engines and heavy vehicles; permits; regulations; liability
• § 85:30A — Permit for certain vehicles exceeding weight limitations to operate on through routes; application; notice of approval or disapproval; violations; revocation or suspension of permit
• § 85:31 — Speed of heavy vehicles with metallic tires
• § 85:32 — Penalties for violations of Secs. 30, 30A, and 31
• § 85:33 — Scope of Secs. 30 to 32
• § 85:34 — Protection of bridges from heavy loads
• § 85:35 — Approval by department of public works of construction of highway bridges; liability for damages to bridges
• § 85:36 — Construction and loading of vehicles to prevent dropping of load on way; penalty
• § 85:37 — Indemnity provision in motor carrier transportation contracts void and unenforceable
• § 85:3A — Approval of name for way other than public way in city or town
• § 85:3B — Changing of name of way
• § 85:4 — Construction of sidewalks by adjoining landowners
• § 85:5 — Removal of snow and ice from sidewalks by abutting landowners; penalties
• § 85:6 — Assessment of cost of removal of snow and ice from sidewalks
• § 85:7 — Exemption from assessment by agreement of owner to remove snow and ice
• § 85:7A — Storage and use of snow removal chemicals; regulations; reports; penalty
• § 85:7B — Depositing snow on state highways
• § 85:8 — Permits for signs and other structures projecting into or over ways
• § 85:9 — Permits; exemption of certain structures
• § 85:9A — Flashing lights on billboards, etc.; discontinuance orders; penalties; exceptions
• § 89:1 — Meeting vehicles
• § 89:10 — Violation of one-way traffic; civil liability
• § 89:11 — Marked crosswalks; yielding right of way to pedestrians; penalty
• § 89:12 — Surcharge on fines for motor vehicle violation
• § 89:2 — Passing vehicle traveling in same direction
• § 89:3 — Sleigh or sled; bells
• § 89:4 — Keeping to right while view obstructed
• § 89:4A — Driving vehicles in a single lane; motorcycles, riding and passing
• § 89:4B — Driving in lane nearest right side of way
• § 89:4C — Heavy trucks; driving in right-hand lane on multi-lane highways
• § 89:4D — Standing or parking of motor vehicle in a designated bike lane
• § 89:4E — Parking or standing of motor vehicle in a designated bus lane; penalties
• § 89:5 — Penalty; exceptions
• § 89:6 — Applicability of rules of road to street railway cars
• § 89:6A — Stopping of street railway cars for passage of fire apparatus
• § 89:7 — Right of way of fire engines, patrol vehicles and ambulances; obstruction; penalties
• § 89:7A — Restrictions on use of ways upon approach of emergency vehicles
• § 89:7B — Operation of emergency vehicles
• § 89:7C — Lane change upon approaching a stationary emergency response vehicle, highway maintenance vehicle or recovery vehicle; penalty
• § 89:7D — Moving of vehicle involved in a crash from a travel lane
• § 89:8 — Right-of-way at intersecting ways; turning on red signals
• § 89:9 — Designation of highways as through ways; traffic control signs and devices
• § 90:1 — Definitions
• § 90:10 — Operation of motor vehicle without license; members of armed forces; nonresidents; suspension or revocation of license
• § 90:11 — Carrying certificate of registration and license; presentation after accident upon request
• § 90:12 — Employing unlicensed motor vehicle operator; permitting person with suspended or revoked license to operate motor vehicle; permitting person with ignition interlock devise license restriction to operate motor vehicle without devise; penalties
• § 90:12A — Use of mobile telephone, hands-free mobile telephone or other mobile electronic device by operator of vehicle or vessel used in public transportation prohibited; penalties; affirmative defenses
• § 90:13 — Safety precautions for proper operation and parking of vehicles and buses
• § 90:13A — Seat belt use required; exemptions; penalty
• § 90:13B — Composing, sending or reading of electronic messages while operating a motor vehicle prohibited; emergencies; penalties
• § 90:13C — Amphibious sight-seeing vehicles; operation on public ways; penalties
• § 90:14 — Precautions for safety of other travelers
• § 90:14A — Protection of blind pedestrians crossing or attempting to cross ways
• § 90:14B — Uniform stopping and turning signals on ways
• § 90:14C — School bus violation detection monitoring systems; taking of photographic and video images; production of evidence files; reporting
• § 90:14D — School bus violation detection monitoring systems; review of evidence file by law enforcement officer; issuance of citation; sworn certificate as prima facie evidence; availability of photographic and video images for inspection in proceedings
• § 90:14E — School bus violation detection monitoring systems; liability of registered owner of violating vehicle; liability of corporate owner or lessee of violating vehicle; effect of penalties imposed for violations; issuance of citation
• § 90:15 — Precautions at railroad crossings
• § 90:16 — Offensive or illegal operation of motor vehicles
• § 90:16A — Stopped motor vehicles; operation of engine; time limit; penalty
• § 90:16B — Idling of a motor vehicle engine on school property; penalties; adoption of regulations
• § 90:17 — Speed limits
• § 90:17A — Speed limit; Massachusetts Turnpike
• § 90:17B — Drag racing; penalties
• § 90:17C — Establishment of 25-miles-per-hour speed limit in thickly settled or business district in city or town; violation
• § 90:17D — Speed limits in active construction zones
• § 90:18 — Special regulations, speed and use of vehicles
• § 90:18A — Pedestrians, use of ways; rules and regulations; violations; notice
• § 90:18B — Establishment of designated safety zones for ways in city or town; violation
• § 90:19 — Dimensions and weights of motor vehicles, trucks and trailers
• § 90:19A — Weight limitations for certain motor vehicles, semi-trailers, etc.; scales; penalties for violations
• § 90:19D — Permit stickers; issuance; application; certificate of gross vehicle weight rating; violations; penalties
• § 90:19E — Operation of motor vehicles and certain trailers and semi-trailers on Interstate and Defense Highways
• § 90:19F — Vehicles authorized to operate on national network
• § 90:19G — Vehicles authorized to operate on routes of reasonable access; safety evaluations
• § 90:19I — Maximum width and weight limitations and minimum speed limits; exception for certain construction vehicles
• § 90:19J — Maximum vehicle widths, axle weights and minimum speed limits; exception for certain snow clearing duties
• § 90:19K — Hitching mechanism
• § 90:19L — Regulations to ensure compliance of interstate and intrastate motor carriers with federal and state laws; inspection of records; penalties
• § 90:1A — Registration of motor vehicles; liability insurance, failure to maintain; revocation of certificate of registration; exemptions; school buses
• § 90:1B — Motorized bicycles; operation regulations
• § 90:1C — Motorized bicycles and scooters; compliance with federal standards
• § 90:1D — Motorized bicycles; sales; number sticker or plate
• § 90:1E — Motorized scooters; operation regulations
• § 90:1F — Low-speed motor vehicles; express state highway and public way restrictions; additional municipality restrictions
• § 90:1G — Notice of disclosure required upon sale, lease or rental of low-speed motor vehicles
• § 90:1H — Registration of motor vehicles designed for operation on public ways but not capable of exceeding 40 miles per hour
• § 90:1I — 3–wheeled motor vehicle registered as motorcycle; qualification
• § 90:2 — Registration of motor vehicles and trailers; applications; reciprocal state agreements; transfer of ownership; plates; fraud or misrepresentation; penalties; license plate retention program for deployed residents
• § 90:20 — Penalties and punishments
• § 90:20A — Parking regulations; violations; notice to appear; failure to appear; adjudication by mail
• § 90:20C — Nature of proceedings under Secs. 20A and 20A1/2; fines
• § 90:20D — Tampering or destruction of parking tags; penalty
• § 90:20E — Liability of lessors of motor vehicles for parking violations
• § 90:20G — Failure to appear in accordance with notice issued pursuant to Department of Transportation regulation; failure to pay violation; motor vehicle license renewals; registration of motor vehicles
• § 90:20H — Failure to pay required toll; Tobin Bridge; motor vehicle license renewals; registration of motor vehicles
• § 90:21 — Arrest without warrant
• § 90:22 — Suspension or revocation of certificate of registration or license; notice
• § 90:22A — Suspension of operator's license or registration certificates, unsatisfied judgment; reinstatement of license
• § 90:22B — Abandonment of motor vehicles; penalties; non-criminal proceedings
• § 90:22C — Abandoned motor vehicles; removal and disposal
• § 90:22D — Suspension of license for automobile law violation; reinstatement
• § 90:22E — Abandoned vehicles; removal of parts; penalty
• § 90:22F — Habitual traffic offender; revocation of license; reinstatement
• § 90:22G — Littering; suspension of license
• § 90:22H — Safe transportation of animals
• § 90:22I — Suspension of license upon report of health care provider or law enforcement officer of operator's cognitive or functional impairment or incapability to operate motor vehicle safely; contents of report; immunity from liability; review by registrar; confidentiality of report
• § 90:23 — Operation of motor vehicle after suspension or revocation of license; concealment of identity of motor vehicle
• § 90:24 — Driving while under influence of intoxicating liquor, etc.; second and subsequent offenses; punishment; treatment programs; reckless and unauthorized driving; failure to stop after collision
• § 90:24A — Use of motor vehicles in commission of felony, larceny or other crimes
• § 90:24B — Stealing, forging or other falsification of learner's permit, operator's license, disability placard certificate of registration or inspection sticker; use or possession; penalties; suspension and reinstatement of license or right to operate motor vehicle
• § 90:24D — Probation of persons convicted of driving under the influence; driver alcohol education program; alcohol treatment and rehabilitation programs; fees; indigents; gifts and grants; report
• § 90:24E — Dismissal of charges upon compliance with terms of probation; records; reports
• § 90:24F — Civil liability to owner for unauthorized use of motor vehicle
• § 90:24G — Homicide by motor vehicle; punishment
• § 90:24H — Removal of abandoned or stolen vehicles from public places; towing vehicles; machines that crush, mutilate or destroy vehicles; salvage or junk yard owners or agents
• § 90:24I — Possession of alcoholic beverages in motor vehicles
• § 90:24J — Inquiry of defendant convicted of driving under influence of intoxicating liquors as to establishment serving alcohol
• § 90:24K — Chemical breath analysis; validity; testing procedures; report forms
• § 90:24L — Serious bodily injury by motor vehicle while under influence of intoxicating substance; penalties
• § 90:24M — Training for law enforcement personnel regarding alcohol-related offenses; alcohol sensitive selective traffic enforcement program
• § 90:24N — Suspension of operator's license upon issuance of complaint; hearing
• § 90:24O — Statement to defendant regarding further violations
• § 90:24P — Minors; further violations; education and treatment programs
• § 90:24Q — Alcohol or drug assessment as condition for certain sentences imposed under chapter
• § 90:24R — Revocation for life of license or right to operate
• § 90:24S — Operation of motor vehicle on public way in violation of ignition interlock device license restriction; penalties
• § 90:24T — Tampering with ignition interlock device; penalties
• § 90:24U — Starting motor vehicle equipped with ignition interlock device for another person under a restricted license
• § 90:24V — Child endangerment while operating a motor vehicle or vessel under the influence; penalties; suspension of license
• § 90:24W — Forfeiture of motor vehicle owned by certain drunk driving offenders; procedure; Operating Under the Influence Deterrent Trust Fund
• § 90:24X — Cancellation of registration for motor vehicles owned by certain drunk driving offenders
• § 90:25 — Refusal to submit to police officer
• § 90:26 — Accident reports; supplemental report; penalty for violation
• § 90:26A — Licenses and learner's permits; reporting changes of name and address
• § 90:27 — Court records; motor vehicle violations
• § 90:28 — Appeals and hearings
• § 90:29 — Deputy registrar, chief deputy registrar, etc.; appointment; duties; investigation of motor vehicle accidents; suspension or revocation of licenses
• § 90:2A — Minors, application for registration of motor vehicle or trailer
• § 90:2B — Removal of registration upon transfer of ownership
• § 90:2D — Temporary registration plates
• § 90:2E — Distinctive registration plates; Environmental Trust Fund; Child Care Quality Fund; 9/11 victims and military heroes funds; Boston Marathon tragedy funds
• § 90:2F — Distinctive registration plates; submission of applications; eligible organizations
• § 90:2G — Passenger plates for low-speed motor vehicles; fee
• § 90:2H — Certificates of registration and number plates for street rods, replica and other custom vehicles; determination of title year and make, model and model year
• § 90:2I — Registration prerequisites for certain custom vehicles; salvage inspection; state-assigned VIN; safety belts; air bags
• § 90:2J — Commercial motor carriers prohibited from operating in interstate commerce by federal agency
• § 90:3 — Operation of motor vehicles owned by non-residents; liability insurance; vehicles used in connection with place of business; suspension or revocation of right to operate vehicle; registration
• § 90:30 — Records of registrar; certified copies; destruction
• § 90:30A — Computer terminals under control of registrar; restricted use
• § 90:30B — Interstate compact; motor vehicle convictions
• § 90:31 — Use and operation of motor vehicles or trailers; conduct of operators and chauffeurs; rules and regulations
• § 90:31A — Transportation by motor vehicle of personal property; rules and regulations
• § 90:32 — Records; manufacturers and dealers of motor vehicles or trailers; garages and open air parking spaces
• § 90:32A — Restoration of original identifying number of motor vehicle; certificate
• § 90:32C — Leasing motor vehicles on mileage basis; registration of distance by mechanical devices; deception by lessor or lessee; leasing to intoxicated or unlicensed persons; redelivery
• § 90:32D — Leasing motor vehicles on mileage basis; records
• § 90:32E — Leasing motor vehicles on mileage basis; operation of vehicles or use of trailers; insurance coverage
• § 90:32F — Leasing motor vehicles on mileage basis; fraud; violations; penalties
• § 90:32G — Instruction for hire in operation of motor vehicles; driver school; licensing; application; fees; qualifications of applicant; suspension or revocation of license or instructor's certificate; procedures
• § 90:32H — Lessors of motorcycles; licensing
• § 90:32J — Vehicles in fleet of car-sharing organization; display of registration plates
• § 90:33 — Fees
• § 90:33A — Motor vehicles; certificates of registration; signatures
• § 90:33B — Traffic control signs, safety devices and improvements; installation and construction costs; high-accident locations; funding limits
• § 90:34 — Disposition of fees