Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H3652 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3880 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3652
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Michael S. Day, (BY REQUEST)
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act to improve pedestrian and vehicular safety.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Vincent Lawrence Dixon60 Lake Street Unit N, Winchester, MA
16	16	01890
17	17	1/17/2025 1 of 3
18	18	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3880 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
19	19	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3652
20	20	By Representative Day of Stoneham (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
21	21	3652) of Vincent Lawrence Dixon for legislation to improve pedestrian and vehicular safety.
22	22	Transportation.
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
26	26	(2025-2026)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act to improve pedestrian and vehicular safety.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 To Be Known As “Anna’s Law”
32	32	2 SECTION 1. The Massachusetts General Laws are hereby amended by inserting the
33	33	3following new chapter:
34	34	4 An Act to improve pedestrian and vehicular safety.
35	35	5 PREAMBLE
36	36	6 Whereas, Ms. Anna LaViolette, a celebrated, and well-regarded resident of Winchester,
37	37	7Mass., was hit while at a crosswalk, in her local community, and died as a result of the accident;
38	38	8and many individuals have thought that action should be taken, to increase pedestrian, and traffic
39	39	9safety; this Act, is to be named, in her honor: “Anna’s Law.”
40	40	10 1.) The safety of pedestrians, and vehicular traffic, is a serious policy concern. Properly
41	41	11marked crosswalks, vehicle lanes, and other markings, help to protect pedestrians, vehicles, and 2 of 3
42	42	12improve general public safety. Due to the normal process of weathering, and volumes of traffic,
43	43	13the visibility of such markings deteriorates over time, and declines in the value of performing, its
44	44	14intended purposes.
45	45	15 2.) Therefore, this Statute, sets standards, which are to be regularly reviewed, enforced,
46	46	16incentivized, and when possible, assisted by the Commonwealth, in keeping these markings to a
47	47	17sufficient standard to perform their important role in public safety.
48	48	18 3.) The Massachusetts Department of Transportation, shall establish particular standards,
49	49	19that are suitable for safety of all markings, on roadways, streets, and other traffic surfaces.
50	50	20 The Mass DOT, should be encouraged, to provide modest financial incentives, for all
51	51	21local jurisdictions to keep these visual standards, in current, sufficient, and even peak conditions.
52	52	22 4.) Measurement of Lumens, by devices that measure reflectivity, and/or can be
53	53	23measured by light meters, and/or other standards; shall be further researched, and enumerated, in
54	54	24a formal listing or document: “Pedestrian and Traffic Markings Safety Maintenance,” to be
55	55	25established by regulation; with suitable public input, enforceable on all state, regional, and
56	56	26municipal roadways, and traffic surfaces, in the interest of health and safety.
57	57	27 5.) Roadway, and traffic surfaces, shall be measured, and ordered to be kept at a
58	58	28particular level of reflectivity, and visibility, in all areas. All local residents, may notify their
59	59	29local DPW offices, and/or the DOT of Massachusetts, when they believe that any of these
60	60	30markings, especially pedestrian crosswalks, and busy intersections, have markings that have
61	61	31deteriorated below a level, that would be useful in protecting pedestrians, and facilitating safer
62	62	32traffic. 3 of 3
63	63	33 6.) Municipalities may, and should be encouraged to, establish local hotline numbers for
64	64	34collecting such complaints, for prompt response.
65	65	35 7.) The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Transportation, shall also
66	66	36assess the costs of keeping such markings up to the needed level of safety, and recommend what
67	67	37appropriations might be shared by the Commonwealth, in training local municipal staff, to keep
68	68	38these markings as needed, to the legal standards.