{"id":"DUT-MA-018","kind":"duty","level":"state","jurisdiction":"Massachusetts","state":"MA","metro":"","industry":"","agency":"","eco":"","issuer":"General Court (codified statute; adopted by cities and towns by ordinance or by-law)","authority":"Massachusetts General Laws, Part I, Title VII, Chapter 40 (Powers and Duties of Cities and Towns)","instrument":"G.L. c. 40, s. 21D","title":"Non-criminal disposition of violations of ordinances, by-laws, rules and regulations","dateIssued":"2026-09-29","effective":"standing","end":"standing","startDate":"2026-09-29","endDate":"","quarters":["2020Q2","2020Q3","2020Q4","2021Q1","2021Q2","2021Q3"],"types":["DUTY","OTHER"],"addressees":["persons generally; businesses fined under the orders; enforcing persons (boards of health, DLS, police)"],"clause":"Any city or town may by ordinance or by-law not inconsistent with this section provide for non-criminal disposition of violations of any ordinance or by-law or any rule or regulation of any municipal officer, board or department the violation of which is subject to a specific penalty.","enforcement":"The specific penalty set by the order or regulation (here $300 per violation under the workplace and mask orders; $500 under the travel and gathering orders), payable without criminal record","functions":[],"notes":"The statutory mechanism (written notice to appear; payment of the specific penalty to the clerk of the district court as an alternative to criminal proceedings) through which every COVID-19 Order\u0027s $300 and $500 civil fines were administered: Order No. 13 (\u0027a civil fine of up to $300 per violation, in the manner provided for non-criminal disposition... pursuant to G.L. c. 40, s. 21D\u0027), Order No. 31 and, uniformly for Orders No. 31, 33, 37, 40, 43, 45 and 46, Order No. 48 (Ex. MA-008, MA-016, MA-028).","sourceUrl":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVII/Chapter40/Section21D","snapshot":"","fileExists":true,"fileBytes":63900,"grade":"primary","character":"order_penalty","description":"","collection":"DUT-MA","url":"/library/DUT-MA-018","exhibitUrl":"/exhibit/DUT-MA-018","citation":"General Court (codified statute; adopted by cities and towns by ordinance or by-law), G.L. c. 40, s. 21D (standing) (Ex. DUT-MA-018)","stateName":"Massachusetts","related":["MA-008","MA-016","MA-028","DUT-MA-026"]}