HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 65        FILED ON: 1/4/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 982

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Timothy R. Whelan

_________________

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 enhance safety on public ways.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Timothy R. Whelan

1st Barnstable

1/4/2017

Brian M. Ashe

2nd Hampden

1/19/2017

William L. Crocker, Jr.

2nd Barnstable

1/23/2017

David F. DeCoste

5th Plymouth

1/11/2017

Shawn Dooley

9th Norfolk

1/30/2017

Colleen M. Garry

36th Middlesex

1/31/2017

Susan Williams Gifford

2nd Plymouth

2/3/2017

Steven S. Howitt

4th Bristol

1/23/2017

Kevin J. Kuros

8th Worcester

2/3/2017

Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr.

28th Middlesex

1/19/2017

Joseph D. McKenna

18th Worcester

1/19/2017

James R. Miceli

19th Middlesex

1/19/2017

Leonard Mirra

2nd Essex

1/26/2017

Michael O. Moore

Second Worcester

2/2/2017

Mathew Muratore

1st Plymouth

1/19/2017

Shaunna L. O'Connell

3rd Bristol

2/1/2017

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

2/3/2017


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 65        FILED ON: 1/4/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 982

By Mr. Whelan of Brewster, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 982) of Timothy R. Whelan and others for legislation to establish a penalty for blocking public ways and disrupting traffic.  The Judiciary.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1672 OF 2015-2016.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

An Act to enhance safety on public ways.

 

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

Chapter 266 is hereby amended by inserting the following section, as Section 120G:

  Whoever knowingly, not being  authorized by a written permit issued by the municipality,

stands or remains in or on any public way with the intent or effect of disputing traffic thereon, or whoever causes another to do the same, or whoever erects or places on a public way any barrier of any sort so that traffic might be affected, shall be punished by a sentence by imprisonment in the House of Correction for not more than one year, and a fine of not more than $2,500.

  A conviction or findings of sufficient facts on any charge brought under this section shall be prima facie evidence of liability in any action brought in connection with the following:

          a.  Any damage to any property, whether privately or publicly owned, including but not limited to vehicles;

          b.  Any continuing injury, illness, or death reasonably attributable to a delay in receiving medical or emergency services caused by prohibited actions in this section

          c.  Any property loss suffered that is reasonably attributable to the delay in response of emergency vehicles to any emergency.