{"data":{"id":"us-ma/mass.-gen.-laws-ch.-89-7c","jurisdiction":"us-ma","citation":"Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 89, § 7C","heading":"Lane change upon approaching a stationary emergency response vehicle, highway maintenance vehicle or recovery vehicle; penalty","body":"Section 7C. (a) As used in this section the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:\n''Emergency response vehicle'', a fire apparatus, police vehicle, ambulance, or disaster vehicle.\n''Highway maintenance vehicle'', a vehicle used for the maintenance of highways and roadways: (1) that is owned or operated by the executive office of transportation and public works, a county, a municipality or any political subdivision thereof; or (2) that is owned or operated by a person under contract with the executive office of transportation and public works, a county, a municipality or any political subdivision thereof.\n''Operator'', any person who operates a motor vehicle as defined in section 1 of chapter 90.\n''Person'', a natural person, corporation, association, partnership or other legal entity.\n''Recovery vehicle'', a vehicle that is specifically designed to assist a disabled vehicle or to tow a disabled vehicle.\n(b) Upon approaching a stationary emergency vehicle, highway maintenance vehicle or recovery vehicle with flashing lights an operator shall:\n(1) proceed with due caution, reduce the speed of the vehicle to that of a reasonable and safe speed for road conditions, and, if practicable and on a highway having at least 4 lanes with not less than 2 lanes proceeding in the same direction as the operator's vehicle, yield the right-of-way by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to that of the emergency response vehicle, highway maintenance vehicle or recovery vehicle; or\n(2) if changing lanes is impracticable, proceed with due caution and reduce the speed of the vehicle to that of a reasonable and safe speed for road conditions.\n(c) Violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than $100.","path":["Part I","Title XIV","Chapter 89"],"source_url":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIV/Chapter89/Section7C","current_through":"amendments passed before May 31, 2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-17T05:21:40Z","sha256":"294c75ab7de8bed5697bc09f97fd5a3886a094594fd231461b08919290c61bfc","source_id":"us-ma","stale":false,"prev":"us-ma/mass.-gen.-laws-ch.-89-7b","next":"us-ma/mass.-gen.-laws-ch.-89-7d"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}