SENATE DOCKET, NO. 815        FILED ON: 1/16/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1459

 

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 safety of officers by requiring interior lights in automobiles to be on during stops.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

 

Donald H. Wong

9th Essex

1/24/2019

Kate Hogan

3rd Middlesex

2/1/2019


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 815        FILED ON: 1/16/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1459

By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1459) of Bruce E. Tarr, Donald H. Wong and Kate Hogan for legislation relative to safety of officers by requiring interior lights in automobiles to be on during stops .  Public Safety and Homeland Security.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

_______________

 

An Act relative to safety of officers by requiring interior lights in automobiles to be on during stops.

 

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 shall be amended by adding after section 62 the new section 63, the following:-

“Section 63. (a) When a motor vehicle is stopped by a police officer as defined in section 98 of chapter 41 of the general laws, the operator shall immediately activate interior cabin lighting if present and operational, and illuminate the inside of the vehicle.

(b) If the operator does not immediately activate interior cabin lighting, the officer may order the operator to comply with this requirement. Noncompliance with such an order shall be considered a violation of section 25 of this chapter.”