1 of 1
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2270 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1182
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Liz Miranda
_________________
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 promoting equity in traffic stops.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Liz MirandaSecond Suffolk 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2270 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1182
By Ms. Miranda, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1182) of Liz Miranda for
legislation relative to evidence obtained during a traffic stop. The Judiciary.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act promoting equity in traffic stops.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after section 20H of chapter 90 of the
2General Laws the following section:-
3 Section 20I.
4 (a) Evidence obtained during a traffic stop shall be inadmissible in any criminal
5proceeding if the evidence is unrelated to the traffic violation that was the basis for the stop,
6unless the officer had reasonable suspicion or probable cause to believe that the operator or
7passenger of the vehicle was engaged in an act that constitutes a felony or a misdemeanor prior
8to initiating the stop.
9 (b) In any motion to suppress evidence under this section, the burden shall be on the
10commonwealth to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that reasonable suspicion or
11probable cause of criminal activity existed prior to the initiation of the traffic stop. 2 of 2
12 (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of law enforcement to
13enforce the traffic laws of the commonwealth. Law enforcement officers may issue citations,
14warnings, or make arrests for violations of traffic laws; provided, however, that such
15enforcement shall not serve as a pretext for investigating unrelated criminal activity.
16 (d) (1) Any evidence obtained in violation of this section shall be suppressed and shall
17not be admissible in any criminal proceeding in the courts of the commonwealth.
18 (2) Any individual subjected to a traffic stop in violation of this section may pursue all
19civil remedies available under state or federal law, including but not limited to claims for
20injunctive relief or monetary damages.