Back-to-School Motorist Advisory 

School reopens in the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District on September 9th. Please allow extra time for your commute and be mindful of children walking and bicycling to school and at bus stops, slower traffic due to school bus activity and increased traffic around schools during drop-off and dismissal times. Police officers in both Dennis and Yarmouth will be stepping up vehicle and traffic enforcement efforts to ensure a safe start to school. Some areas of Massachusetts General Laws (MGL) we tend to concentrate on at this time of year are listed below, along with the penalties.

MGL Ch. 89 §11 Crosswalk Violation - $200

• Blocking a crosswalk,

• Pass a motor vehicle stopped at a crosswalk,

• Failure to yield right of way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk

MGL Ch. 90 §7AA Child Passenger Restraint - $25 + $5 Public Safety surcharge

• Under the age of 8, and less than 57 inches (4' 9") tall shall be fastened and secured by a child passenger restraint

• Under the age of 13 shall wear a safety belt

MGL Ch. 90 §13A Seat Belt Violation - $25

• $25 for each additional passenger not wearing a properly adjusted seat belt

• Passenger can also be directly fined $25.

MGL Ch. 90 §14 Failure to Stop For A School Bus When Red Lights Are Flashing

• 1st offense: $250

• 2nd offense: $1000

• 3rd or subsequent offense: $2000

MGL Ch. 90 §14 Operating (following/stopping) Within 100 Feet of a School Bus

• 1st offense: $35

• 2nd offense: $75

• 3rd or subsequent offense: $150

MGL Ch. 90 §15 Railroad Crossing Violation (School Bus) - $500

MGL Ch. 90 §17 Speed Limits (School Zone) - Graduated Fine Structure

• $105 for up to the first 10 miles per hour over the speed limit,

• Add $10 for every mile per hour above that,

• Add $10 Head Injury surcharge,

• Add $45 public safety surcharge,

• Additional Junior Operator License penalties

1. 90 day suspension

2. Driver Attitudinal Retraining Course & State Courts Against Road Rage (SCARR) Program

3. $500 reinstatement fee

4. Full Exam

MGL Ch. 90 § 8 Junior Operator License Passenger Restriction Violation

• 1st offense: 60 day suspension + $100 reinstatement fee

• 2nd offense: 180 day suspension, Driver Attitudinal Retraining Course + $100 reinstatement fee

• 3rd or subsequent offense: 1 year suspension, Driver Attitudinal Retraining Course, Full Exam

MGL Ch. 90 §8M Use of a Mobile Phone or Mobile Electronic Device, Sending/Reading Text Message by a Junior Operator (Hands Free law)

• 1st offense - $100, 60 day license suspension & attitudinal course

• 2nd offense - $250, 180 day suspension

• 3rd or subs offense - $500, 1 year suspension

MGL Ch. 90 §13B Improper Use of a Mobile Phone by Operators 18 and Over (Hands Free Law)

• 1st offense - $100 assessment

• 2nd offense in 12 months - $250 assessment + mandatory distracted driving educational course

• 3rd offense in 12 months - $500 assessment + surcharge on auto insurance

MGL Ch. 90 § 24(2)(a) Negligent Operation & Injury from Mobile Phone Use Criminal Offense- Insurance surcharge

Junior Operator License (JOL) Suspensions

• 1st offense-180-day suspension

• 2nd or subsequent offense within 3 years-1 year suspension

• $500 reinstatement fee

Over-18 suspensions

• 1st offense-60-day suspension

• 2nd or subsequent offense within 3 years-1 year suspension

• $500 reinstatement fee

We wish you safe motoring.