House of Representatives unanimously votes to remove surcharge from headlight infractions.
Representative David K. Muradian, Jr. (R-Grafton), voted with the rest of the Massachusetts House of Representatives to amend the Commonwealth’s new law requiring drivers to turn their headlights on any time their windshield wipers are on in inclement weather. The change to the law would adjust the regulation so that any violation would no longer (and retroactively) be considered a moving violation. This means that an infraction would only result in a simple five dollar fine rather than a fine coupled with an insurance surcharge.
The law took effect on Tuesday, April 7th and requires that when there is inclement weather requiring you to turn on your windshield wipers, and conditions hinder visibility for 500 feet, you must also turn on your headlights as well. Daytime running lamps are not sufficient. Also, headlights must be turned on a half hour after sunset, and a half hour before sunrise.
“I was very happy to stand with the rest of my colleagues to remove the surcharge from this offense,” stated Rep. Muradian. “It was simply too harsh of a penalty for a violation of this law. A one-time fine for an infraction is enough, tacking on years of insurance surcharges years goes a bit too far for forgetting to turn on one’s headlights.”
Although this change has passed the House, it still must get through the Senate and be signed by the Governor. Until final passage of these changes, a violation will still result in an insurance surcharge as well as the five dollar fine. Rep. Muradian would like to remind drivers that they should still turn their lights on when their wipers are on.
UPTON DAILY 