HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2606        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3301

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

David F. DeCoste

_________________

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 preventing road rage.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

David F. DeCoste

5th Plymouth

1/19/2023

Michael J. Soter

8th Worcester

1/30/2023


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2606        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3301

By Representative DeCoste of Norwell, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3301) of David F. DeCoste and Michael J. Soter relative to preventing road rage incidents precipitated by slow or stopped vehicles.  Transportation.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 4184 OF 2021-2022.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

An Act relative to preventing road rage.

 

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

Chapter 89 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4B the following section:-

Section 4B 1/2. (a) Notwithstanding section 4B or any other general or special law to the contrary, if the driver of a motor vehicle is moving at a speed so slow as to impede the forward movement of traffic proceeding immediately behind the driver, the driver shall:

(1) if the highway has 1 lane for traveling in each direction and the width of the paved portion permits, drive to the extreme right side of the highway;

(2) if the highway has 2 or more clearly marked lanes for traffic traveling in the direction in which the driver is traveling, drive in the furthest right-hand lane except when necessary to pass other slowly moving vehicles; or

(3) if the highway is a controlled access highway, use alternate routes whenever possible.

(b) A person shall not bring a vehicle to a complete stop upon a roadway so as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic unless the stop is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.

(c) Notwithstanding section 5, a violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine of $600, divided equally between the arresting agency and the cost of the court.