HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 250        FILED ON: 1/14/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1560

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Tricia Farley-Bouvier

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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 use of ways by pedestrians (i.e. jaywalking).

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 250        FILED ON: 1/14/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1560

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3283 OF 2019-2020.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act relative to use of ways by pedestrians (i.e. jaywalking).

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. The first paragraph of section 18A of chapter 90 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the third sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- Whoever violates any provision of a rule regulating the use by pedestrians of ways shall be punished by a fine of $1; provided, however, the traffic and parking commission of the city of Boston, the traffic commission or traffic director of any city or town having such a commission or director with authority to promulgate traffic rules, the city council of any other city or the board of selectmen of any other town may, without written approval from the department or publication in a newspaper, set the fine at a different amount, not to exceed $50, for a violation of a rule regulating the use by pedestrians of ways within their respective control.

SECTION 2. Said section 18A of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the fourth paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

Any person notified to appear before the clerk of a district court pursuant to this section may appear before the clerk and confess the offense charged, either personally or through an agent duly authorized in writing or by mailing to the clerk, with the notice, payment of a fine levied pursuant to this section; provider, however, the payment shall be made by money order or check only. Full payment of a fine levied pursuant to this section shall operate as a final disposition of the case. Proceedings under this paragraph shall not be deemed criminal and no person notified to appear before the clerk of a district court as provided herein shall be required to report to any probation officer and no record of the case shall be entered in the probation records.