Section 3. If a person desiring to operate any motor vehicle for the purposes and in the manner aforesaid over a route covering at least twenty miles holds a license therefor in the terminal municipalities and also a license in all but one of the intervening municipalities, or, in case seven or more municipalities intervene, in all but one or two thereof, the department of public utilities, hereinafter in this chapter called the department, on petition of such person, shall act as the licensing authority in the one or two municipalities, as the case may be, in which such person's application for such an original license has not been favorably acted upon within three months after the filing thereof. The department, before issuing such a license, shall give a public hearing thereon after notice to the licensing authority of such a municipality, and if the department finds that public convenience and necessity require that the applicant be allowed to operate motor vehicles through such a municipality and over a route as aforesaid, it may issue a license therefor and shall specify therein the route or routes over which such motor vehicles shall be operated therein, but operation under such a license shall be limited to through traffic without stopping in such municipality for taking on or discharging passengers, except in case of a railroad or railway company operating a bus line as a part of its system.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Chapter 159a - Common Carriers of Passengers by Motor Vehicle
Section 2 - Licenses; Specification of Routes; Form; Detours
Section 4 - Voiding Licenses, Continuing Licenses; Revocation of Licenses
Section 5 - Temporary Licenses
Section 6 - Bond; Actions; Cancellation of Bond
Section 7a - Assignment or Transfer of Certificate
Section 9 - Drivers Licenses; Qualifications; Fees; Revocation
Section 10 - Supervision and Regulation by Department; Annual Return
Section 11a - Charter, School or Special Service Vehicles; License; Rules and Regulations
Section 11b - Agreements to Contribute to Costs of Public Transportation Authorized
Section 12 - Local Rules and Regulations; Changes by Department
Section 13 - Department of Highways; Registrar of Motor Vehicles; Application of Chapter
Section 14 - Trackless Trolleys; Application of Chapter
Section 15 - Violations; Penalties; Jurisdiction; Complaints
Section 16 - Evasion of Payment of Fare; Penalty
Section 32 - School Department Vehicles; Use for Transporting Community Groups