HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1553        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Kathleen R. LaNatra and Michelle L. Badger

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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 increasing penalties for hit and runs with recreational vehicles in the Commonwealth to be known as the James Ward Act.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1553        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

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 increasing penalties for hit and runs with recreational vehicles in the Commonwealth to be known as the James Ward Act.

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. Section 26B of chapter 90B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 17 -18, the words “shall be punished by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-  person, not resulting in the death of another person, shall be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 1 year or by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

SECTION 2. Said section 26B of said chapter 90B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, after subsection (c), the following subsection:-

(d) Whoever operates a snow vehicle or a recreation vehicle and, without stopping and making known theirs name, address and the registration number of his snow vehicle or recreation vehicle, leaves the scene after knowingly colliding with or otherwise causing bodily injury to another person shall, if the injuries result in the death of another person, be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 2 1/2 years or by a fine of not more than $5,000 or by both such fine and imprisonment.

SECTION 3. Said section 26B of said chapter 90B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 19, the word “(d)” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- (e).

SECTION 4. Said section 26B of said chapter 90B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 29, the word “(e)” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- (f).