HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 797        FILED ON: 1/28/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3470

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Colleen M. Garry

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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 to prevent jaywalking.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 797        FILED ON: 1/28/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3470

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3030 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 to prevent 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. Chapter 89 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

            “  Section 13.  In any city or town which votes to accept the provisions of this section, when an official traffic control device is present, no pedestrian shall cross a roadway intersection diagonally unless authorized by said official traffic-control devices;  and, when authorized to cross diagonally, pedestrians shall cross only in accordance with the official traffic-control devices pertaining to such crossing movements.  Pedestrians shall not walk against a signal light and cross at any place except in a marked crosswalk between adjacent intersections at which traffic control signals are in operation.

              Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be fined $25 for a first offense; $50 for second offense and $100 for a third or subsequent offense.

If the violation occurs while the person is using a mobile electronic device and/or wearing earbuds, headphones, or like devices, the penalties shall be increased to $50 for a first offense ; $100 for second offense and $200 for a third or subsequent offenses.”

Section 2. Section 18A of chapter 90 of the General Laws,  is hereby amended by striking the last sentence of the first paragraph and inserting in its place the following:-

“Whoever violates any provision of any such rule shall be punished by a fine of twenty –five dollars for the first; $50 for the second; or $100 for a third or subsequent offense committed by such person within the jurisdiction of the district court in the particular calendar year.

If the violation occurs while the person is using a mobile electronic device and/or wearing earbuds, headphones, or like devices, the penalties shall be increased to $50 for a first offense ; $100 for second offense and $200 for a third or subsequent offenses.”