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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1292 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3474
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Thomas P. Walsh
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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 roadway safety.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Thomas P. Walsh12th Essex1/18/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1292 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3474
By Representative Walsh of Peabody, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3474) of
Thomas P. Walsh relative to the removal of ice and snow from motor vehicles. Transportation.
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 roadway safety.
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:
2 Section 36 of chapter 85 of the MGL as appearing in the 2020 edition, his hereby
3amended by inserting at the end thereof the following:
4 Section 36A
5 1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a driver of a motor vehicle or motor
6carrier vehicle being operated on a public roadway of this Commonwealth shall make reasonable
7efforts to remove accumulated ice or snow from the motor vehicle or motor carrier vehicle,
8including the hood, trunk and roof of the motor vehicle or motor carrier vehicle, within 24 hours
9after the cessation of the falling snow or ice.
10 Paragraph (1) shall not apply if: 2 of 2
11 (i) the driver of the motor carrier vehicle, mass transit vehicle, bus or school bus is en
12route to a facility to remove accumulated ice or snow at the time of the stop under paragraph (3);
13or
14 (ii) compliance with this section would cause the driver of the motor carrier vehicle, mass
15transit vehicle, bus or school bus to violate any other Federal or State law or regulation regarding
16workplace safety or would be a threat to the health and safety of the driver.
17 (iii) A driver of a motor vehicle or motor carrier vehicle who violates this subsection may
18be stopped on a public roadway by a police officer if the police officer believes the accumulated
19ice or snow may pose a threat to persons or property.
20
21 2. A violation of this section shall be subject to a penalty as promulgated in chapter 85,
22section 36 of the Massachusetts General Laws.