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2023 Massachusetts General Laws
Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases
Title I - Crimes and Punishments
Chapter 266 - Crimes Against Property
- Section 1 - Dwelling Houses; Burning or Aiding in Burning
- Section 2 - Meeting House; Burning or Aiding in Burning
- Section 3, 4 - Repealed, 1932, 192, Sec. 3
- Section 5 - Wood and Other Property; Burning or Aiding in Burning
- Section 5a - Attempts
- Section 6 - Repealed, 1932, 192, Sec. 3
- Section 7 - Woods; Wanton or Reckless Injury or Destruction by Fire
- Section 8 - Injury by Fire; Negligent Use
- Section 9 - Injury by Fire; Negligent Use in Town; Damages
- Section 10 - Insured Property; Burning With Intent to Defraud
- Section 11 - Fire Alarm, Engine or Apparatus; Injury Before Fire
- Section 12 - Fire Alarm, Engine or Apparatus; Injury During Fire to Prevent Alarm or Extinction of Fire
- Section 13 - Fire Engines; Wanton or Malicious Injury
- Section 13a - Duty of Hotel Manager to Notify Fire Department and Sound Alarm; Penalty
- Section 14 - Burglary; Armed; Assault on Occupants; Weapons; Punishment
- Section 15 - Burglary; Unarmed
- Section 16 - Breaking and Entering at Night
- Section 16a - Building, Vessel or Vehicle; Breaking and Entering With Intent to Commit Misdemeanor
- Section 17 - Entering Without Breaking at Night; Breaking and Entering in Day Time; Weapons; Punishment
- Section 18 - Dwelling House; Entry at Night; Breaking and Entering in Day Time; Weapons; Punishment
- Section 18a - Entering Dwelling House by False Pretenses; Intent to Commit Felony; Larceny; Punishment
- Section 19 - Railroad Car; Breaking and Entering
- Section 20 - Stealing in Building, Ship or Railroad Car
- Section 20a - Breaking and Entering of Trucks, Tractors, Trailers or Freight Containers
- Section 20b - Stealing in Trucks, Tractors, Trailers or Freight Containers
- Section 21 - Stolen Property; Refusal to Surrender
- Section 22 - Poultry Thieves; Detention by Owner; Penalty
- Section 23 - Embezzlement of Property at Fire; Effect
- Section 24 - Stealing at a Fire; Punishment
- Section 25 - Larceny by Stealing; Punishment; Victim Sixty-Five or Older; Minimum Sentence for Repeat Offenders
- Section 26 - Repealed, 1945, 282, Sec. 1
- Section 27 - Tools of Contractors, Builders or Mechanics; Stealing; Penalty
- Section 27a - Motor Vehicle or Trailer; Removal or Concealment to Defraud Insurer
- Section 28 - Motor Vehicle or Trailer; Theft or Concealment; Operation Without Owner's Consent After Revocation of License; Penalty
- Section 29 - Statement Concerning Theft; Recovery of Vehicles; Restitution
- Section 29a - Repealed, 1980, 463, Sec. 4
- Section 29b - Burning Motor Vehicle; Owner's Statement to Fire Department
- Section 30 - Larceny; General Provisions and Penalties
- Section 30a - Shoplifting; Penalty; Arrest Without Warrant
- Section 30b - Unlawful Distribution, Possession, or Deactivation or Removal of Theft Detection Shielding Device; Unlawful Distribution or Possession of Theft Detection Device Deactivator or Remover; Penalty
- Section 30c - Possession, Use, Counterfeit, Etc. of Receipts, Price Ticket or Universal Product Code Label With Intent to Defraud; Penalty
- Section 30d - Organized Retail Crime; Aggravated Organized Retail Crime; Leader of Organized Retail Theft Enterprise; Penalty
- Section 31 - Signature; Obtaining Under False Pretenses
- Section 32 - Fraudulent Conversion of Property by Captain of Vessel
- Section 33 - Larceny; False Pretences Relating to Contracts, Banking Transactions or Credit
- Section 33a - Obtaining Computer Services by Fraud or Misrepresentation; Penalties
- Section 34 - Larceny; Inducement to Part With Property
- Section 35 - Non-Applicability of Secs. 30, 31 and 34
- Section 35a - False Material Statements or Omissions During or in Connection With Mortgage Lending Process; Penalties; Mitigating Factors With Respect to Sentencing
- Section 36 - Repealed, 1945, 282, Sec. 1
- Section 37 - Fraudulent Checks, etc.; Drawing or Uttering
- Section 37a - Misuse of Credit Cards; Definitions
- Section 37b - Misuse of Credit Cards; Penalties; Multiple Possession, Presumption; Arrest
- Section 37c - Fraudulent Use of Credit Cards to Obtain Money, Goods or Services; False Embossment of Credit Cards, Multiple Possession, Presumption; Arrest
- Section 37d - Publishing Credit Card Numbering or Coding Systems
- Section 37e - Use of Personal Identification of Another; Identity Fraud; Penalty; Restitution
- Section 38 - Larceny; Wrongful Detention of Money by Carriers
- Section 38a - Construction Loan; Misapplication
- Section 39 - Wills; Destruction or Concealment
- Section 40 - Common and Notorious Thief
- Section 41 - Larceny of Bicycles; Second Conviction
- Section 42 - Larceny of Paper Designated for Bank Bills
- Section 43 - Paper Designated for Bank Bills; Retention by Printer With Intent to Pass
- Section 44 To 46 - Repealed, 1945, 282, Sec. 1
- Section 47 - Dogs; Wrongful Removal of Collar; Penalty
- Section 48 - Stolen Goods; Duty of Arresting Officers to Secure
- Section 49 - Burglarious Instruments; Making; Possession; Use
- Section 50 - State Treasury; Fraud or Embezzlement by Employee
- Section 51 - City, Town or County Officers; Fraud or Embezzlement
- Section 52 - Bank Officers and Employees; Fraud or Embezzlement
- Section 53 - Bank Officers or Employees; Prosecution for Fraud or Embezzlement; Evidence
- Section 53a - Bank Officers and Employees; Misconduct; Penalty
- Section 54 - Receipt of Deposits by Insolvent Banks; Penalty
- Section 55 - Liquidating Agent or Receiver; Embezzlement
- Section 56 - Brokers or Agents; Embezzlement
- Section 57 - Fiduciaries; Embezzlement
- Section 58 - Larceny; Embezzlement From Voluntary Association
- Section 59 - Simple Larceny; Embezzlement From Voluntary Association
- Section 60 - Stolen Goods; Buying, Receiving or Aiding in Concealment; Penalty
- Section 60a - Stolen Trade Secrets; Buying or Selling
- Section 60b - Venue for Charge and Prosecution of Crimes Committed in Different Counties or Territorial Jurisdiction of Different Courts
- Section 61 - Stolen Property; Restitution; Effect
- Section 62 - Stolen Goods; Common Receiver
- Section 63 - Unlawful Taking or Use of Transportation Media
- Section 64 - Fraudulent Hiring of Media of Transportation
- Section 65 - Stock; Unauthorized Issue
- Section 66 - Stock; Fraudulent Issue or Transfer
- Section 67 - Corporate Books; False Entries With Intent to Defraud
- Section 67a - Departments, Agencies and Public Instrumentalities; False Statements, Etc. in Procurement of Supplies; Penalty
- Section 67b - Presentation of False Claims
- Section 67c - Capital Facility Construction Projects, etc.; False Entries in Records; Penalties
- Section 68 - Corporate Books as Evidence
- Section 69 - Insignia of Societies; Unlawful Use
- Section 69a - Fraudulent Use of Labor Union Seal, Trademark or Insignia
- Section 70 - Insignia of Veteran Organizations; Unlawful Use
- Section 71 - Signature, Money or Membership; Obtaining Under False Pretences
- Section 71a - Individuals and Corporations; False Use of Names of Benevolent Organizations
- Section 72 - Fraternal Names; Use in Publication
- Section 73 - Obtaining Goods Under False Pretences
- Section 74 - Corporate Credit; Fraudulent Use
- Section 75 - Obtaining Property by Trick
- Section 75a - Gambling Devices and Vending Machines; Fraudulent Use
- Section 75b - Slugs; Manufacture and Sale
- Section 75c - Gift Certificates; Expiration Dates; Failure to Redeem
- Section 75d - Imposition of Certain Fees Reducing Total Value Amount of Gift Certificate; Penalty
- Section 75e - Printed Notice Required for Certain Fees Associated With Gift Certificates; Penalty for Violation
- Section 75f - Deduction of Gratuity From Gift Certificate Without Consent; Penalty
- Section 76 - Gross Fraud or Cheat at Common Law; Punishment
- Section 77 - Sterling and Coin Silver; Contents; Sale; Penalty
- Section 78 - Articles Made of Gold; False Marking; Prohibition
- Section 79 - Imitation of Furs; False Representation; Prohibition
- Section 80 - Encumbered Land; Conveyance Without Notice
- Section 81 - Attached Land; Conveyance Without Notice
- Section 82 - Concealment of Mortgaged Personalty; Use of Rented Personalty for Illegal Sale of Liquor
- Section 83 - Personalty; Sale by Mortgagor Without Consent
- Section 84 - Personalty; Sale by Hirer Without Consent
- Section 85 - Collateral Security; Sale Before Debt Due
- Section 86 - Hired Property; Buying or Receiving With Intent to Defraud
- Section 87 - Larceny of Leased or Rented Property
- Section 87a - Stolen Leased or Rented Motor Vehicles; Report; Dissemination of Information by Police
- Section 88 - Consignee or Factor; Fraudulent Deposit or Pledge of Property
- Section 89 - Degrees; Pretending to Hold or Conferring Without Authority; Use of Designation ''university'' or ''college''
- Section 90 - Endorsement or Approval; Penalty for False Claim
- Section 91 - Untrue and Misleading Advertisements; Prohibitions
- Section 91a - Merchandise, Commodities and Service; Advertisement; Penalty
- Section 91b - Deceptive Advertising of Merchandise for Sale; Injunction
- Section 92 - False or Exaggerated Statements; Making or Publishing; Prohibition
- Section 92a - Motor Vehicles; Sale in Certain Condition; Written Disclosure on Bill of Sale; Penalty
- Section 93 - Animals; Obtaining or Giving False Pedigree
- Section 94 - Boundary Monuments and Miscellaneous Markers; Malicious Destruction
- Section 95 - Historical Monuments; Malicious Destruction or Injury
- Section 96 - State Building; Defacement or Injury
- Section 97 - County Buildings; Defacement
- Section 98 - Schoolhouse or Church; Defacement or Injury
- Section 98a - Public Park or Playground Equipment; Destruction, Defacement or Injury
- Section 99 - Libraries; Definitions
- Section 99a - Libraries; Theft of Materials or Property; Destruction of Records
- Section 100 - Libraries; Mutilation or Destruction of Materials or Property
- Section 101 - Definitions Applicable to Secs. 101 to 102d
- Section 102 - Possession or Control of Incendiary Device or Material; Possession of Hoax Device or Material; Penalty
- Section 102a - Throwing, Secreting, Launching or Placing of Incendiary Device; Intent; Punishment
- Section 102a1/2 - Repealed, 2010, 160, Sec. 6
- Section 102b - Malicious Explosion
- Section 102c - Biological, Chemical, or Nuclear Weapon or Delivery System; Possession; Punishment
- Section 102d - Notice of Seizure of Explosive or Incendiary Device Resulting From a Violation of Secs. 102 to 102c; Restitution
- Section 103 - Oil of Vitriol, or Other Substances; Throwing Into Building or Vessel
- Section 104 - Buildings; Destruction or Injury
- Section 104a - Goal Posts; Penalty for Destruction
- Section 104b - Research Animals; Unauthorized Removal
- Section 105 - Stone Walls or Fences; Unauthorized Removal
- Section 106 - Ice Ponds; Injury
- Section 107 - Bridge or Canal; Injury
- Section 108 - Vessel; Destruction to Injure or Defraud Owner or Insurer; Punishment; Restitution
- Section 109 - Vessel; Fitting Out With Intent to Destroy
- Section 110 - False Invoice of Cargo; Intent to Defraud Insurer
- Section 111 - False Affidavit or Protest; Penalty
- Section 111a - Insurance Policies; Penalty for Fraudulent Claims
- Section 111b - Motor Vehicle Insurance Policies; Penalty for Fraudulent Claims
- Section 111c - Fraudulently Obtaining Benefits Under Insurance Contract; Runners; Punishment
- Section 112 - Domestic Animals; Malicious Killing or Injury
- Section 113 - Timber, Wood and Shrubs; Wilful Cutting and Destruction on Land of Another
- Section 114 - Trees and Fences; Malicious Injury
- Section 115 - Trespass in Orchards and Gardens
- Section 116 - Repealed, 1962, 172
- Section 116a - Protection of Certain Flowers
- Section 117 - Orchards and Gardens; Entry With Intent to Injure or Destroy
- Section 118 - Domestic Animals; Trespass on Land
- Section 119 - Pests; Bringing Into State; Penalty; Exception
- Section 120 - Entry Upon Private Property After Being Forbidden as Trespass; Prima Facie Evidence; Penalties; Arrest; Tenants or Occupants Excepted
- Section 120a - Motor Vehicle; Parking on Private Way; Prosecution; Evidence
- Section 120b - Entry on Land by Abutting Property Owners Not Constituting Trespass
- Section 120c - Entry Upon Adjoining Lands by Surveyors Not Constituting Trespass
- Section 120d - Removal of Motor Vehicles From Private Ways or Property; Penalties; Liability for Removal and Storage Charges; Release of Vehicle
- Section 120e - Obstructing Entry to or Departure From Medical Facilities; Penalties; Injunctive Relief
- Section 120e1/2 - Reproductive Health Care Facilities; Withdrawal Orders for Individuals Impeding Access to or Departure From Facility; Intimidation; Penalty for Violations
- Section 120f - Unauthorized Access to Computer System; Penalties
- Section 121 - Entry on Land With Firearms
- Section 121a - Trespasses Involving Motor Vehicles and Other Powered Devices
- Section 122 - Notice Against Trespassers; Defacement; Penalty
- Section 123 - State Land; Public Institutions; Trespass; Penalty
- Section 123a - Willful Trespass Upon Public Source of Water, Water Supply Facility or Land
- Section 124 - Legal Notice; Penalty for Malicious Injury
- Section 125 - Show Bill or Advertisement; Penalty for Malicious Injury
- Section 126 - Natural Scenery; Penalty for Defacement
- Section 126a - Defacement of Real or Personal Property; Penalties
- Section 126b - Tagging; Penalties; Suspension of Driver's License
- Section 127 - Willful, Malicious or Wanton Destruction or Injury to Personal Property, Dwelling House or Building of Another
- Section 127a - Destruction of Place of Worship, etc.; Threats; Punishment
- Section 127b - Actions for Civil Rights Violations; Liability
- Section 128 - Milk Cans; Defacement
- Section 129 - Correctional Institutions; Injury to Property
- Section 130 - Penal Institutions; Injury to Property
- Section 131 - Sunday Trespassers; Arrest and Detention Without Warrant
- Section 132 - Pigeons; Killing or Frightening
- Section 133 - Humane Society; Injury to Property
- Section 134 - Repealed, 1962, 285, Sec. 3
- Section 135 - Vessels; Mooring the Buoy, Beacon or Floating Guide; Penalty
- Section 136 - Repealed, 1962, 285, Sec. 3
- Section 137 - Injury to Mill by Raising Water
- Section 138 - Dams or Reservoirs; Malicious Injury
- Section 138a - Irrigation Equipment; Malicious Injury
- Section 139 - Motor Vehicles or Trailers; Defacement, etc., of Identifying Numbers; Penalties; Arrests
- Section 139a - Machines, Electrical or Mechanical Devices; Alteration or Obliteration of Identifying Numbers; Possession; Sale; Punishment
- Section 140 - Sale or Offer for Sale of Master Keys; Penalty
- Section 141 - Tampering With Odometer of Motor Vehicle; Intent to Defraud; Civil Remedy; Treble Damages; Costs and Fees; Unfair Competition; Repair or Replacement Excepted
- Section 141a - Misrepresentation of Mileage of Motor Vehicle by Turning Back or Readjusting Speedometer or Odometer; Criminal Penalty
- Section 142 - Record of Purchases by Dealers in Scrap Copper Wire; Inspection; Penalty
- Section 142a - Gold, Silver and Platinum Dealers; Records; Penalty
- Section 143 - Definitions Applicable to Secs. 143a to 143h
- Section 143a - Unauthorized Reproduction and Transfer of Sound Recordings
- Section 143b - Unauthorized Reproduction and Sale of Live Performances
- Section 143c - Manufacture, Rental, or Sale of Recorded Devices in Packaging Not Bearing Reproducer's Name and Address
- Section 143d - Application of Secs. 143 to 143c; Exceptions
- Section 143e - Violations of Secs. 143a to 143c; Punishment
- Section 143f - Unlawful Recording of Motion Picture in Motion Picture Theater; Punishment
- Section 143g - Persons Detained for Possible Violation of Sec. 143f; Defense to False Imprisonment or False Arrest Action
- Section 143h - Forfeiture of Recordings Upon Conviction for Violation of Secs. 143a to 143c or Sec. 143f
- Section 144 - Carrying Away or Conversion of Certain Milk Containers Without Permission of Owners
- Section 145 - Theft of Public Records
- Section 146 - Disposal of Solid Waste in Commercial Disposal Container of Another Without Consent of Owner; Penalties
- Section 147 - Items or Services Bearing or Identified by Counterfeit Mark; Sales; Penalties
- Section 148 - Catalytic Converters; Documentation and Records Required for Purchase or Acquisition; Penalties
Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. Massachusetts may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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