An Act relative to restrictions on highway breakdown lane travel

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Rich Haggerty

New MA law limits designated breakdown-lane travel to 30 mph and imposes $100 fines for speeding or failing to exit at the next exit ramp.

Overview

HD 5403, introduced in the 2025-2026 Massachusetts General Court, seeks to restrict the use of highway breakdown lanes by requiring designated rules and penalties. The bill adds a new section to the General Laws (Section 38, by amending Section 85) to define breakdown lanes, establish a maximum travel speed for lanes used at certain times, and impose fines for violations. The sponsor is Rep. Richard M. Haggerty (30th Middlesex).

Bill number: House Docket No. 5403

Title: An Act relative to restrictions on highway breakdown lane travel

Filed: December 5, 2025

Introduced: December 2025 (per bill text)

Status: Not listed in the provided information

Key Provisions

Definitions

Breakdown lane: A paved lane on a highway to the right of the travel lanes, separated by a solid line.

Speed limit in designated breakdown lanes

Breakdown lanes that are designated by signs for travel use during certain allowed times shall have a maximum speed of 30 mph.

Penalties for speeding in the breakdown lane

An operator who speeds in a designated breakdown lane may be fined $100.

Exit requirement for breakdown lane travel

An operator traveling in a breakdown lane must exit the breakdown lane at the next available exit ramp upon entering the breakdown lane.
Failure to exit at the next available exit ramp results in a $100 fine.

Affected Parties

Drivers and motor vehicle operators on highways with breakdown lanes, particularly those traveling in lanes designated for use during specific times.

Law enforcement and parking/traffic enforcement personnel responsible for enforcing speed and exit-usage violations.

Transportation signage and highway management agencies responsible for implementing and maintaining the designated travel times and signage.

Enforcement, Timelines, and Implementation

Enforcement: Fines are imposed for two violations—speeding in a designated breakdown lane ( $100 ) and failing to exit at the next available exit ramp ( $100 ).

Timelines: The bill specifies that breakdown lanes designated for travel during certain times will have a 30 mph limit, and it creates an obligation to exit at the next exit ramp. The text does not provide an explicit effective date; typically, effectiveness would follow enactment (and potential signing into law) with any needed implementing regulations and signage.

Signage: The existence of “certain allowed times” for breakdown lane travel hinges on road signs indicating when travel is permitted, suggesting a requirement for clear traffic signage.

Potential Impacts

Safety and efficiency: Aimed at reducing unsafe or unlawful use of breakdown lanes by limiting speed and enforcing exit requirements.

Driver guidance: Requires awareness of designated times and adherence to exit rules; signage will be crucial for compliance.

Enforcement burden: Creates specific fines and may require enforcement resources to monitor breakdown-lane use and ensure compliance.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to emphasize impact on a particular audience (e.g., motorists, policymakers, or transportation planners) or add a brief comparison to existing breakdown-lane rules in Massachusetts.

Bill