{"data":{"id":"us-ma/mass.-gen.-laws-ch.-159a1-2-1","jurisdiction":"us-ma","citation":"Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 159A1/2, § 1","heading":"Definitions","body":"Section 1. As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:\n''Background check clearance certificate'', verification issued by the division to a transportation network company and driver applicant, electronically or otherwise, that a driver applicant successfully completed the background check required under section 3 and is suitable to provide transportation network services.\n''Cruising'', the driving of a vehicle on the streets, alleys or public places of motorized travel in search of or soliciting hails from a person in the street.\n''Department'', the department of public utilities.\n''Digital network'', any online-enabled application, software, website or system offered or utilized by a transportation network company that enables pre-arranged rides with transportation network drivers.\n''Division'', the division established in section 23 of chapter 25.\n''Pre-arranged ride'', a period of time that begins when a transportation network driver accepts a requested ride through a digital network, continues while the driver transports the transportation network company rider and ends when the rider safely departs from the vehicle.\n''Transportation network company'', a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship or other entity that uses a digital network to connect riders to drivers to pre-arrange and provide transportation.\n''Transportation network company permit'' or ''permit'', a document that may be issued by the division to a qualifying transportation network company pursuant to this chapter.\n''Transportation network driver'' or ''driver'', a driver certified by a transportation network company.\n''Transportation network driver certificate'' or ''driver certificate'', an authorization to provide transportation network services issued by the transportation network company to a transportation network driver.\n''Transportation network rider'' or ''rider'', a passenger in a pre-arranged ride provided by a transportation network driver, provided that the passenger personally arranged the ride or an arrangement was made on the rider's behalf.\n''Transportation network services'' or ''services'', the offering or providing of pre-arranged rides for compensation or on a promotional basis to riders or prospective riders through the transportation network company's digital network, covering the period beginning when a transportation network driver is logged onto the transportation network company's digital network and is available to receive a pre-arranged ride or while in the course of providing a pre-arranged ride.\n''Transportation network vehicle'' or ''vehicle'', a vehicle that is used by a transportation network driver to provide transportation network services.","path":["Part I","Title XXII","Chapter 159A1/2"],"source_url":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXXII/Chapter159A1~2/Section1","current_through":"amendments passed before May 31, 2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-17T05:23:45Z","sha256":"f6089e31e5bd93d058df7d00f7dd7a45acb17e3576596c28ea1f2275d5be4696","source_id":"us-ma","stale":false,"prev":"us-ma/mass.-gen.-laws-ch.-159c-14","next":"us-ma/mass.-gen.-laws-ch.-159a1-2-2"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}