Amendment S.3105

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Will Brownsberger

Cambridge may issue civil parking violation notices detected by ALPRs, using city rules and Section 20A, Chapter 90 procedures with photo or data evidence.

See H4231

Summary of Bill: S.3105 (Amendment by Senate to Cambridge Parking Enforcement)

Purpose and intent

The bill authorizes the City of Cambridge to issue notices of violation for parking violations through automated license plate readers (ALPRs) or similar parking monitoring technologies.

It expands Cambridge’s authority to enforce city parking rules, regulations, orders, ordinances, or by-laws using automated monitoring, aligning the enforcement process with state procedures for violations.

Key provisions and changes

Section 1 (new authority and process):

Cambridge may issue notices of violation for parking infractions detected by ALPRs or comparable technologies, as long as the violations pertain to rules, regulations, orders, ordinances, or by-laws established by the city governing motor vehicle parking.
The issuance of these notices must follow the procedures outlined in Section 20A of Chapter 90 of the General Laws (Massachusetts), which governs non-criminal traffic violations (civil process).
Photographs or data showing the alleged violation, and transmitted to Cambridge’s transportation department, constitute cognizance of a violation under Section 20A, Chapter 90.
To issue a notice, the city must provide evidence of the violation in the form of photographs, monitoring data, or other evidence from the ALPRs or authorized technologies.

Section 2 (effective date):

The act takes effect upon passage.

Who or what would be affected

Affected Entity: City of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Targeted enforcement: Parking violations within Cambridge that are governed by city rules (ordinances, by-laws, and regulations).

Evidence and process: Uses ALPRs or similar technologies to detect violations; enforcement must rely on photographic or data evidence and follow Section 20A, Chapter 90 procedures.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Implementation would be immediate upon passage (effective date: upon passage).

Enforcement pathway mirrors the state system for civil traffic violations, specifically leveraging:

ALPR-based detection
Requirement to provide photographic or data evidence
Processing of notices under Section 20A, Chapter 90 (civil penalties, not criminal court process)

Additional notes

The bill is an amendment to House Bill 4231 (H.4231) related to parking enforcement in Cambridge, with Senate text authored as an amendment by Senator Brownsberger.

The sponsor is also listed as a co-sponsor (Will Brownsberger).

If you’d like, I can provide a brief comparison to existing state law on ALPR enforcement and a summary of potential fiscal or privacy considerations commonly discussed with such measures.