Section 14B. Whenever any commercial vehicle having a gross weight in excess of five thousand pounds other than a motor bus or taxicab, or any automobile service truck, so called, becomes disabled or stops to load or unload any motorized equipment from such vehicle or from a trailer upon the traveled portion of any street or highway the operator of such vehicle shall, during the time when lights are required to be displayed on motor vehicles, place three flares on the traveled part of the way in the following positions:— one flare in the center of the traffic lane in which such disabled vehicle remains and distant approximately one hundred feet from such vehicle in the direction of traffic approaching in that lane; one flare not less than one hundred feet from such vehicle in the opposite direction in said lane; and one flare at the traffic side of such vehicle, not nearer than ten feet from the front or rear of such vehicle; provided, that if such vehicle is disabled or stopped to load or unload any motorized equipment from such vehicle or from a trailer upon the traveled portion of any street or highway within three hundred feet of a curve, crest of a hill, or other place where the view of such vehicle is obstructed, the flare in that direction shall be so placed as to afford ample warning to other persons using such way, and in no case less than one hundred feet, nor more than three hundred feet, from the disabled vehicle. The word ''flare'' as used in this section shall mean either a lighted pot torch, a lighted red electric lamp, or a warning device meeting the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 125.
Every motor vehicle to which this section applies, when operated on any street or highway, shall carry at all times not less than three flares in a position where they are easily accessible to any person desiring to use the same and to any officer or official authorized to inspect said vehicle.
Violation of any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars and, in addition, the registrar of motor vehicles may, in the case of a motor vehicle not equipped as provided by this section, suspend for not more than fifteen days the certificate of registration of such vehicle. This section shall not apply to street railway cars and trackless trolley vehicles.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title XIV - Public Ways and Works
Chapter 85 - Regulations and By-Laws Relative to Ways and Bridges
Section 1 - Direction Signs; Erection and Maintenance by Cities and Towns
Section 2 - Traffic Signs or Devices; Erection and Maintenance; Rules and Regulations
Section 2a - Removal of Vehicles Interfering With Snow and Ice Removal
Section 2b - Limited Access and Express State Highways; Regulation of Use
Section 2c - Towing of Vehicles From State Highways
Section 2d - Signs on State Highways Indicating Availability of Certain Services
Section 3 - Change of Name of Ways or Parks; Appeal
Section 3a - Approval of Name for Way Other Than Public Way in City or Town
Section 3b - Changing of Name of Way
Section 4 - Construction of Sidewalks by Adjoining Landowners
Section 5 - Removal of Snow and Ice From Sidewalks by Abutting Landowners; Penalties
Section 6 - Assessment of Cost of Removal of Snow and Ice From Sidewalks
Section 7 - Exemption From Assessment by Agreement of Owner to Remove Snow and Ice
Section 7a - Storage and Use of Snow Removal Chemicals; Regulations; Reports; Penalty
Section 7b - Depositing Snow on State Highways
Section 8 - Permits for Signs and Other Structures Projecting Into or Over Ways
Section 9 - Permits; Exemption of Certain Structures
Section 9a - Flashing Lights on Billboards, etc.; Discontinuance Orders; Penalties; Exceptions
Section 10 - Regulation of Use of Ways; Penalties
Section 10a - Coasting on Ways in Cities
Section 11 - Arrest Without Warrant for Driving at Excessive Speed
Section 11b.5 - Mandatory Helmet Use for Persons 16 Years of Age or Younger
Section 11d - Bicycle Helmets; Display of Sign Requiring Use
Section 11e - Traffic Law Violations by Bicyclist
Section 14a - Funeral Processions
Section 14b - Flares; Use by Certain Commercial Vehicles
Section 15 - Lights on Vehicles
Section 16 - Duty of Driver at Night to Give Name to Officer on Request
Section 17 - Penalty for Violation of Sec. 15 or 16
Section 17a - Soliciting From Vehicles on Public Ways
Section 17b - Riding on Rear or Side of Street Railway Car, Motor Bus or Trackless Trolley
Section 18 - Moving of Buildings in Public Way
Section 19 - Leading, Driving, or Conveying Dangerous Wild Animals on Public Ways
Section 20 - Regulation of Speed on County Bridges
Section 21 - Regulation of Speed on Town Bridges
Section 21a - Warning Signs on State Highways for Protection of School Children
Section 22 - Regulation of Speed on Incorporated Bridges
Section 23 - Regulation of Travel on State Ways; Penalties
Section 24 - Posting of Regulations on Bridges
Section 25 - Jurisdiction of District Court Over Bridges
Section 27 - Duties of Draw Tender
Section 28 - Liability of Owners of Vessel for Injury to Bridge
Section 29 - Removal of Vessel Obstructing Draw
Section 31 - Speed of Heavy Vehicles With Metallic Tires
Section 32 - Penalties for Violations of Secs. 30, 30a, and 31
Section 33 - Scope of Secs. 30 to 32
Section 34 - Protection of Bridges From Heavy Loads
Section 36 - Construction and Loading of Vehicles to Prevent Dropping of Load on Way; Penalty
Section 37 - Indemnity Provision in Motor Carrier Transportation Contracts Void and Unenforceable