SENATE DOCKET, NO. 453        FILED ON: 1/17/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 962

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Bruce E. Tarr

_________________

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 relative to safe driving and open containers.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

 

F. Jay Barrows

1st Bristol

1/27/2017

Daniel M. Donahue

16th Worcester

1/27/2017

Angelo L. D'Emilia

8th Plymouth

1/31/2017

Jonathan Hecht

29th Middlesex

2/1/2017

Steven Ultrino

33rd Middlesex

2/3/2017

Donald F. Humason, Jr.

Second Hampden and Hampshire

2/3/2017

Alice Hanlon Peisch

14th Norfolk

2/3/2017

Richard J. Ross

Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex

3/3/2017


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 453        FILED ON: 1/17/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 962

By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 962) of Bruce E. Tarr, F. Jay Barrows, Daniel M. Donahue, Angelo L. D'Emilia and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to safe driving and open containers.  The Judiciary.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act relative to safe driving and open containers.

 

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 90 of the General Laws is hereby amended after Section 24I by inserting the following new section:-

Section 24I½. Possession of narcotic drugs and marihuana in motor vehicles.

Section 24I½. (a) As used in this section, the following word shall have the following meaning:

“Open container,” a prescription bottle, plastic bag, or other receptacle used to contain a narcotic drug or marihuana, as defined in Section 1 of Chapter 93C of the General Laws, that has been opened or has a broken seal or the contents of which have been partially removed or consumed.

(b) Whoever, upon any way or in any place to which the public has a right of access, or upon any way or in any place to which members of the public have access as invitees or licensees, possesses an open container of a narcotic drug or marihuana in the passenger area of any motor vehicle, as defined by Section 24I of Chapter 90 for the General Laws, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500.