Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H3775 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 535 FILED ON: 1/9/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3775
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Lindsay N. Sabadosa and Joanne M. Comerford
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 relative to the town of Hatfield to permit the use of golf carts on the public ways of the
13	13	town.
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/9/2025Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester1/9/2025 1 of 3
17	17	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 535 FILED ON: 1/9/2025
18	18	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3775
19	19	By Representative Sabadosa of Northampton and Senator Comerford, a joint petition
20	20	(accompanied by bill, House, No. 3775) of Lindsay N. Sabadosa and Joanne M. Comerford (by
21	21	vote of the town) that the town of Hatfield be authorized to permit the use of golf carts on the
22	22	public ways in said town. Transportation. [Local Approval Received.]
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 relative to the town of Hatfield to permit the use of golf carts on the public ways of the
29	29	town.
30	30	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
31	31	of the same, as follows:
32	32	1 SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any other general or special law to the contrary, golf carts
33	33	2may be driven on the public ways of the town of Hatfield, subject to the restrictions set forth
34	34	3herein and in any bylaw passed by the town. For the purposes of this act, the public way shall not
35	35	4include sidewalks.
36	36	5 SECTION 2. No person shall operate a golf cart on any public way without first
37	37	6registering the vehicle with the town clerk and affixing a registration decal provided by the town
38	38	7clerk to the rear right fender of the vehicle. The town clerk shall not register any golf cart
39	39	8without proof that the vehicle is insured and unless it has first passed a safety inspection
40	40	9administered by the chief of police or his designee. The town may charge a reasonable fee for
41	41	10such inspection and registration which shall be set in a bylaw. 2 of 3
42	42	11 SECTION 3. No person shall operate a golf cart on any public way without a valid
43	43	12driver’s license, except that a driver with a valid learner’s permit may operate a golf cart with a
44	44	13licensed driver sitting immediately adjacent to the permit holder.
45	45	14 SECTION 4. No person shall operate a golf cart on a public way if any component of the
46	46	15vehicle has been modified from the original manufacturer’s equipment in such a way as to
47	47	16enhance its speed. Without limitation, such modifications include the removal of the governor,
48	48	17and/or replacing the engine and power train with a larger one.
49	49	18 SECTION 5. No person shall operate a golf cart on a public way at a speed in excess of
50	50	1920 miles per hour. No person shall operate a golf cart on any way where the speed limit exceeds
51	51	2040 miles per hour, including any state highway.
52	52	21 SECTION 6. No person shall consume alcohol while operating a golf cart on any public
53	53	22way and no driver or passenger shall have an open container of alcohol within the golf cart while
54	54	23it is being operated.
55	55	24 SECTION 7. No person shall operate a golf cart on a public way between one-half hour
56	56	25after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise except where the select board has given permission
57	57	26to exceed this restriction for special events.
58	58	27 SECTION 8. Golf carts operating on public ways must stay to the right whenever
59	59	28possible and not impede the regular flow of traffic.
60	60	29 SECTION 9. All drivers and passengers must wear seat belts when a golf cart is operated
61	61	30on a public way. 3 of 3
62	62	31 SECTION 10. The town of Hatfield may adopt a bylaw setting fines for violations of this
63	63	32act, provided that nothing herein shall prohibit any law enforcement officer from acting within
64	64	33the scope of his duties by enforcing any traffic law or regulation using a uniform traffic citation
65	65	34and applying the penalties therein.
66	66	35 SECTION 11. This act shall take effect upon its passage.