Mass. General Laws c.272 § 80H

Motor vehicles; striking, injuring or killing dogs or cats

Updates

• Renumbered by St.1980, c. 261, § 28
• Amended by St.2018, c. 219, § 26, effective November 7, 2018

Section 80H

The operator of a motor vehicle that strikes and injures or kills a dog or cat shall forthwith report such an accident to the owner or custodian of said dog or cat or to a police officer in the town wherein such accident has occurred. A violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than $100 for a first offense or not more 10 days in a house of corrections and a fine of $500 and the cost of medical expenses, not to exceed $2,500, imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than 6 months or both such fine and cost and imprisonment for a second and subsequent offense. Nothing in this section shall preclude a civil cause of action including, but not limited to medical expenses, by the aggrieved party.

Last updated:	June 6, 2019