Bill
S 2547
S.2547 expands Move Over protections to utility and disabled vehicles, raises fines and adds injury penalties, requires remedial education for repeat offenders, and sets insurance
Status (as provided)
- Introduced: July 30, 2025. Reported from Transportation committee July 7, 2025; later actions include referral to Senate Ways & Means and other committee activity. (Metadata shows multiple committee referrals — see Procedural Notes below.)
Purpose
- To expand and strengthen Massachusetts’ “Move Over” statute (G.L. c. 89, §7C) by:
- Extending protections to utility vehicles and disabled (stationary non‑emergency) vehicles on road shoulders,
- Increasing fines for violations,
- Adding enhanced penalties when violations cause injury,
- Requiring remedial driver education for repeat offenders, and
- Establishing when offenses become surchargeable by insurers.
Key provisions and changes
- New definitions added to G.L. c. 89, §7C:
- “Utility vehicle”: a vehicle used to install/maintain/repair/operate/restore communications, electric or gas distribution/transmission service in an emergency, operated by the utility’s employee or contractor (includes telephone/electric companies and entities defined under G.L. c. 164).
- “Disabled vehicle”: any non‑emergency vehicle that is stationary on the shoulder or breakdown lane of a roadway/highway.
- Scope expansion:
- Where the statute currently covers emergency and maintenance vehicles, the bill explicitly adds “utility vehicle” and “disabled vehicle,” requiring drivers to take protective actions (e.g., move over or slow down).
- Fines and criminal penalties (new subsection (c)):
- First offense: $250 fine.
- Second offense: $500 fine.
- Third or subsequent offense: $1,000 fine.
- Any violation that results in injury: in addition to any fine above, punishable by a $2,500 fine or imprisonment in jail/house of correction for up to 1 year.
- Remedial program (subsection (d)):
- A driver committing a second or third offense must complete a program selected by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles designed to encourage attitudinal change.
- Insurance surchargeability (subsection (e)):
- First and second offenses are not surchargeable under G.L. c. 175, §113B or motor vehicle liability policies (G.L. c. 175, §34A).
- Any subsequent offense (third and later) is surchargeable under those provisions.
Who is affected
- Motor vehicle operators: new higher fines and potential criminal exposure for injurious violations; repeat offenders face mandatory remedial education.
- Utility workers and companies: receive explicit statutory protection for utility vehicles working on emergencies/repairs.
- Drivers of disabled vehicles: occupants get similar statutory protections.
- Insurers and insured drivers: third+ offenses may trigger premium surcharges under existing insurance statutes.
- Registrar of Motor Vehicles: responsible for designating the remedial program(s).
Procedural notes and inconsistencies
- The bill text amends G.L. c. 89, §7C and was reported by the Senate Transportation committee (filed 7/3/2025). Legislative action entries list multiple committee referrals (Transportation, Ways & Means, Judiciary, and “Referred to Education” entries). Users should verify the bill’s current committee/status in the official legislative database for up‑to‑date procedural posture.
Related measures
- Prior-session bills listed: S.2937, S.273, S.2386 — may contain similar Move Over or roadway‑safety provisions.
Bottom line
- S.2547 broadens the Move Over law’s protected classes to include utility and disabled vehicles, raises penalties (including criminal exposure for injurious incidents), creates mandatory educational sanctions for repeat offenders, and establishes when offenses become insurance‑surchargeable — strengthening legal protections for workers and stranded motorists on road shoulders.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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