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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 333 FILED ON: 1/12/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2101
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.
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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 outstanding fines, fees, penalties, or costs related to the use of fireworks or
pyrotechnics in the city of Springfield.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.12th Hampden1/11/2023 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 333 FILED ON: 1/12/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2101
By Representative Puppolo of Springfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2101) of
Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. (with the approval of the mayor and city council) relative to outstanding
fines, fees, penalties, or costs related to the use of fireworks or pyrotechnics in the city of
Springfield. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to outstanding fines, fees, penalties, or costs related to the use of fireworks or
pyrotechnics in the city of Springfield.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, in the city of
2Springfield if an outstanding fine, fee, penalty or cost related to or assessed as a result of the
3violation of any ordinance of the City of Springfield relative to the use or possession of fireworks
4or pyrotechnics, collectively referred to hereafter as "outstanding fireworks related collections
5owed", remains paid for fourteen (14) days after a demand therefor made more than 1 day after
6the outstanding fireworks related collections owed becomes due and payable, and if the tax
7collector of the city of Springfield elects to utilize the services of a deputy collector, then the
8deputy collector or the tax collector, as the case may be, shall send a notice of warrant to person
9owing the outstanding fireworks related collection in order to collect the delinquency. In the
10event that the delinquency is not paid within thirty (30) days to the notice of warrant, then a
11service warrant shall be made. If the delinquency remains unpaid after the service of warrant 2 of 3
12then the deputy collector may, at the discretion of the tax collector, return the uncollected
13warrants of those delinquencies to the tax collector. The tax collector or a designee, as the case
14may be, may at any time transmit, but at least on an annual basis, to the police commissioner of
15the police department of the city of Springfield, in a form approved by the police commissioner,
16notice of the nonpayment, specifying the name and address of the person to whom the
17delinquency is assessed, the amount due and all interest thereon and costs relative thereto and
18identifying information as to any motor vehicle(s) or, trailer(s) owned in the name of the person
19owing the outstanding fireworks related collection assessed and remaining delinquent, which was
20used in the course of the underlying Ordinance violation resulting in the fine, fee, penalty or cost
21at issue; provided, however, that no notice shall be transmitted to the police commissioner under
22this section at a time when there is a pending appeal of an underlying outstanding fireworks or
23pyrotechnics fine, fee, penalty or cost as the case may be.
24 Upon receipt of the notice of non-payment, the Springfield police department, or its
25designee, may remove said motor vehicle(s) or trailer(s) in the name of the of the person so
26assessed that is parked or standing in a public way within the city of Springfield to, and store in,
27a convenient place in the city until all charges lawfully imposed for the removal and storage have
28been paid and due notice has been received that either the delinquency provided in the warrants
29has been paid or security for the payment thereof has been deposited. Notice shall be made to the
30registered owner of the vehicle at the time of the service of warrant. Vehicles shall be eligible for
31impoundment twenty-two (22) days after the notice.
32 Under section 8 of chapter 135 of the General Laws, if the motor vehicle or trailer
33remains unclaimed in the possession of the police department of the city of Springfield, or its
34designee, for 1 month and the owner thereof or the owner's place of abode or business is 3 of 3
35unknown, or if the owner and the owner's place of abode or business are known and the owner,
36after receipt by registered mail of a written notice from the department or member to take
37possession of the property, refuses or fails to take possession for a period of 10 days following
38the receipt, the police department or its designee may sell the same, by public auction or any
39other licensed auction service, including sale over the internet, with notice of the time and place
40of sale and a description of the property to be sold, first being given by publishing the same once
41in each of three (3) successive weeks in a newspaper published in the city of Springfield.
42 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.