SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1049        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1978

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act relative to speed limits in cities and towns..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 17 of chapter 90 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended in line 12 by striking out the word “thirty” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “twenty five”.

SECTION 2. Section 18 of said chapter 90 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the first paragraph the following new paragraph:-Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, upon a vote by the city council, board of selectmen, of other legislative body, a city or town may make special regulations as to the speed of motor vehicles on “functionally classified local streets” defined by the Metropolitan Planning Organization as a public way in a residential area and a public way between a residential and a minor commercial area; provided, however, that a professional engineer in civil or traffic engineering registered within the Commonwealth and the chief of police or the board or officer having control of the police in a city or town first certify in writing that such regulation is consistent with the public interest and public safety; provided further, that such regulations shall not be subject to the approval of the department or the registrar.