Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H3795 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. 579 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3795
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Steven Ultrino and Steven Owens
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 establish a monthly payment plan and protect motorists from excessive EZ-Pass fees
13	13	and fines.
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Steven Ultrino33rd Middlesex1/10/2025Steven Owens29th Middlesex1/10/2025Paul J. Donato35th Middlesex1/13/2025 1 of 4
17	17	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 579 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
18	18	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3795
19	19	By Representatives Ultrino of Malden and Owens of Watertown, a petition (accompanied by bill,
20	20	House, No. 3795) of Steven Ultrino, Steven Owens and Paul J. Donato for legislation to further
21	21	regulate fees and fines assessed under the Pay By Plate and E-ZPass MA Systems.
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 establish a monthly payment plan and protect motorists from excessive EZ-Pass fees
29	29	and fines.
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. Section 13 of chapter 6C of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
33	33	2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after subsection (c) the following subsections:-
34	34	3 (d) The department shall regularly review fees and fines assessed under the Pay By Plate
35	35	4and E-ZPass MA Systems, as defined in 700 CMR 11.02. At least once a month the department
36	36	5shall identify persons owing tolls, fines, fees or other debts of than $100. The department shall
37	37	6attempt to make contact with these account holders using all possible means to let them know
38	38	7their account status and to explain actions they can take to address their account balances. These
39	39	8efforts shall include, but are not limited to, comparing address information on file with the
40	40	9national change of address registry, communicating with the account holder by email, and calling
41	41	10the account holder by cell and home phone. 2 of 4
42	42	11 (e)(1) The department shall establish a monthly payment plan option for persons owing
43	43	12tolls, fines, fees or other debts of $250 or more under the Pay By Plate or E-ZPass MA systems,
44	44	13as defined in 700 CMR 11.02. The minimum monthly payment due shall be $25. Upon receipt of
45	45	14the first payment due under a monthly payment plan, the department shall not charge any
46	46	15additional fines or fees on existing debts for late payment or failure to pay. The department may
47	47	16accept automatic monthly payments by credit or debit card on file with the department or
48	48	17payments made by check or money order received by mail or in person.
49	49	18 (2) If a person participating in a monthly payment plan is complying with all the
50	50	19requirements of this subsection and any regulations promulgated by the department pursuant to
51	51	20this subsection, the department shall not instruct the registry of motor vehicles to refuse to renew
52	52	21the person’s license to operate a vehicle or vehicle registration due to the existence of unpaid
53	53	22tolls, fines, fees or other debts owed by the person under the Pay By Plate or E-ZPass MA
54	54	23systems; provided, that the department shall notify the registry of motor vehicles for the
55	55	24registry’s records.
56	56	25 SECTION 2. Chapter 90 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section
57	57	2620G and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
58	58	27 Section 20G. (a) If a person fails to appear in accordance with a notice to appear issued
59	59	28pursuant to a Massachusetts Department of Transportation regulation or fails to pay in a timely
60	60	29manner a violation issued pursuant to such regulations after having received notice thereof, the
61	61	30authority shall notify the registrar who shall place the matter on record and shall not renew the
62	62	31license to operate a motor vehicle or the registrations of any vehicles owned by such person until
63	63	32the matter has been disposed of in accordance with applicable law or regulation. If the person is 3 of 4
64	64	33found to be a resident of another state or jurisdiction, the registrar shall revoke the violator's right
65	65	34to operate in the commonwealth until the matters have been disposed of in accordance with
66	66	35applicable law or regulation. The liability of lessors of motor vehicles for violations on facilities
67	67	36owned by the authority shall be governed by authority regulations in a manner consistent with
68	68	37the provisions of section 20E. The registrar shall prescribe the manner, form and content of any
69	69	38notice received from the authority to take such action.
70	70	39 (b)(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the registrar may issue a conditional reinstatement
71	71	40of a license to operate a motor vehicle or the vehicle registration for a person who: (i) owes tolls,
72	72	41fines, fees or other debts to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation under the Pay By
73	73	42Plate or E-ZPass MA systems, as defined in 700 CMR 11.02; (ii) is participating in the monthly
74	74	43payment plan option, established in subsection (e) of section 13 of chapter 6C and has completed
75	75	44at least 1 payment under such a monthly payment plan; (iii) is in compliance with said subsection
76	76	45(e) and any relevant regulations; and (iv) is otherwise qualified to hold said license or
77	77	46registration.
78	78	47 (2) The registrar shall revoke a license or registration that was conditionally reinstated
79	79	48pursuant to paragraph (1) if: (i) the person is more than 30 days in arrears on a payment required
80	80	49under a monthly payment plan entered into pursuant to subsection (e) of section 13 of chapter
81	81	506C; or (ii) for any other violation of a general or special law or regulation.
82	82	51 (3) Upon successful completion of the monthly payment plan established in subsection
83	83	52(e) of section 13 of chapter 6C, the registrar shall fully renew the person’s license and vehicle
84	84	53registration; provided, that the person is otherwise qualified to hold said license or vehicle
85	85	54registration. 4 of 4
86	86	55 SECTION 3. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the registrar of motor
87	87	56vehicles shall promulgate or amend any regulations necessary to implement this act within 5
88	88	57years of its passage.
89	89	58 SECTION 4. This act shall take effect 120 days after passage.