HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1269        FILED ON: 1/20/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1800

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Robert M. Koczera and William N. Brownsberger

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to require the use of headlights on motor vehicles during any period in which windshield wipers are also in use.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Robert M. Koczera

11th Bristol

1/20/2011

John W. Scibak

2nd Hampshire

1/25/2011

William N. Brownsberger

 

1/25/2011

Cory Atkins

14th Middlesex

1/31/2011

James Arciero

2nd Middlesex

1/31/2011

Martha M. Walz

8th Suffolk

2/3/2011


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1269        FILED ON: 1/20/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1800

By Mr. Robert  M. Koczera of New Bedford, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 01800) of Marty Walz and others for legislation to require the use of headlights on motor vehicles during any period in which windshield wipers are also in use. Joint Committee on Transportation.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3257 OF 2009-2010.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

_______________

 

An Act to require the use of headlights on motor vehicles during any period in which windshield wipers are also in use.

 

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. Chapter 85 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 15, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 15.  (a) Every vehicle, whether stationary or in motion, on any public way, shall have attached to it a light or lights which shall be so displayed as to be visible from the front and the rear during the period fro a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise.

(b)  Every vehicle, whether stationary or in motion, on any public way shall display at least 2 lighted lamps on the front and every motorcycle, whether stationary or in motion, on any public way shall display at least 1 lighted lamp on the front when, due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, including, but not limited to, periods of snow, rain or fog, persons or vehicles on the way are not clearly discernible at a distance of 500 feet ahead or it is necessary to use a vehicle’s windshield wipers.  A violation of this paragraph shall not be considered as a conviction of a moving violation of the motor vehicle laws for the purpose of determining surcharges on motor vehicle premiums pursuant to section 113B of Chapter 175.