HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2112        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4087

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Orlando Ramos

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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 traffic safety at intersections.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2112        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4087

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act relative to traffic safety at intersections.

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. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:

“Intersection”, an intersecting way, as defined in section 1 of chapter 90.

“Intersection violation”, (i) making a turn at a steady red indication or stop indication in a traffic control signal in violation of section 8; (ii) failing to yield, slow or stop at a steady red indication or stop indication in a traffic control signal at an intersection pursuant to section 9; or (iii) blocking an intersection in violation of said section 9.

“Motor vehicle”, as defined in section 1 of chapter 90.

“Operator”, as defined in section 1 of chapter 90.

“Owner”, as defined in section 1 of chapter 90.

“Traffic safety camera”, a device capable of capturing a photographic image of a motor vehicle whose operator commits an intersection violation at an intersection.

“Way”, as defined in section 1 of chapter 90.

(b) A city or town that accepts this section, pursuant to section 4 of chapter 4, may install and operate a traffic safety camera to promote traffic and pedestrian safety at intersections. The city or town may place a traffic safety camera at any intersection of ways maintained by the city or town; provided, that the city or town may place a traffic safety camera within its municipal borders at an intersection with one or more ways maintained by the commonwealth if it obtains permission from state agency that maintains the way.

(c) A city or town that accepts this section may impose a fine on an operator who commits an intersection violation or an owner whose vehicle was used to commit an intersection violation.

(d) A city or town that accepts this section shall erect signage to notify operators that a camera is present at any intersection where a traffic safety camera is installed.

SECTION 2. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation shall promulgate regulations, pursuant to chapter 30A, which shall include minimum safety and privacy standards for traffic safety cameras installed and operated pursuant to this act.