Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 14B (2026)

Uniform stopping and turning signals on ways

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 14B. Every person operating a motor vehicle, before stopping said vehicle or making any turning movement which would affect the operation of any other vehicle, shall give a plainly visible signal by activating the brake lights or directional lights or signal as provided on said vehicle; and in the event electrical or mechanical signals are not operating or not provided on the vehicle, a plainly visible signal by means of the hand and arm shall be made. Hand and arm signals shall be made as follows:—

1. An intention to turn to the left shall be indicated by hand and arm extended horizontally.

2. An intention to turn to the right shall be indicated by hand and arm extended upward.

3. An intention to stop or decrease speed shall be indicated by hand and arm extended downward.

Whoever violates any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars for each offense.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 15 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1969–2026 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Avellar, 875 N.E.2d 539 (Mass. App. Ct. 2007).

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Commonwealth v. Avellar, 875 N.E.2d 539 (Mass. App. Ct. 2007). · cites it 4× “The officers then followed the Toyota as it drove away from 79 Oesting Street, and they stopped the vehicle when they observed the driver violate G. L. c. 90, § 14B. 4 Upon approaching the Toyota, Smith smelled marijuana and saw, in plain view on the console area of the…”

Commonwealth v. Lobo, 978 N.E.2d 807 (Mass. App. Ct. 2012). “608, 613 (2007) (failing to signal is civil motor vehicle violation under G. L. c. 90, § 14B). Moreover, the immediate *809 observation that none of the occupants was wearing a seat belt provided a basis to cite, and demand identification from, all the vehicle’s occupants,…”

Commonwealth v. Ortiz, 88 Mass. App. Ct. 573 (Mass. App. Ct. 2015). “5 See G. L. c. 90, § 14B (failure to signal a change of lanes a civil infraction); Commonwealth v.”

Commonwealth v. Williams, 704 N.E.2d 212 (Mass. App. Ct. 1999). “G. L. c. 90, § 14B. “Where the police have observed a traffic violation, they are warranted in stopping a vehicle.”

Commonwealth v. Rivas, 929 N.E.2d 328 (Mass. App. Ct. 2010). “608, 613 (2007) (a stop was justified by a driver’s failure to signal a turn, which is a civil infraction violation of G. L. c. 90, § 14B). General Laws c. 90, § 20, amended by St.”

Gnanaratnam v. Hanover Ins., 12 Mass. L. Rptr. 287 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2000). · cites it 3× “04(20) 7 The facts of this case suggest that the driver of the Mercedes violated G.L.c. 90, §14B, 8 as well as 720 Code Mass.”

Commonwealth v. Torres, 5 N.E.3d 560 (Mass. 2014). “90, § 10; and a civil motor vehicle infraction, in violation of G. L. c. 90, § 14B. These charges were dismissed.”

Commonwealth v. Caballero, 30 Mass. L. Rptr. 318 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2012). · cites it 2× “89, §14A or aviolation of G.L.c. 90, §14B (failing to give direction signal) had occurred, Tpr.”

Commonwealth v. Barreto (Mass. 2019). “at 873 ; G. L. c. 90, § 14B (failure to signal prior to turning).”

Commonwealth v. Messiah Stanley Sprows-watson (& a Companion Case). (Mass. App. Ct. 2026). “89, § 11; and failure to signal under G. L. c. 90, § 14B. 3 The Commonwealth did not object, but it requested forty- five days to comply; the judge granted the Commonwealth thirty days to comply.”

Commonwealth v. Atweri (Mass. App. Ct. 2026). “1 The defendant was also found responsible for failure to signal, G. L. c. 90, § 14B. 3 On the morning of February 18, 2022, Maracallo was on Main Street in Worcester, near traffic lights at the intersection of Main Street and King Street, facing toward downtown Worcester.”

Dep't of State Police v. Kerry McAuliffe. (Mass. App. Ct. 2026). “In another field, describing another infraction with which the defendant was charged (that is not at issue here), the citation reads "90/14B," referencing G. L. c. 90, § 14B. Comparing the two fields shows that no forward slash is used between the number and the letter when a…”

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