WHEREAS, I have this day issued a proclamation declaring that a state of emergency exists within the Commonwealth; and

 

WHEREAS, a ban on non-essential motor vehicle travel is necessary to meet this state of emergency; 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Charles D. Baker, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution as Supreme Executive Magistrate, Part 2, c. 2, § 1, Art. 1 and Chapter 639 of the Acts of 1950, do hereby order as follows:

 

Section 1. Except as set out in Section 2, there shall be a ban on motor vehicle travel in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts beginning at 12:00 a.m. on January 27, 2015 and continuing until further notice.

 

Section 2. The motor vehicle travel ban shall not apply to: 

• Public safety vehicles, sworn and civilian public safety personnel, including those providing services at correctional facilities, and private sector security personnel 

• Public works vehicles and public works personnel, including contract personnel supporting public works operations

• Public transportation vehicles and public transportation personnel, including contract personnel supporting public transportation operations 

• Government personnel conducting official business 

• Utility company vehicles and personnel, including contract personnel supporting utility response and restoration efforts 

• Personnel directly supporting storm response operations, including but not limited to emergency shelter personnel

• Personnel supporting human services facilities, including but not limited to residential housing programs and human services shelter operations 

• Healthcare personnel, including home healthcare personnel and personal care assistants 

• Personnel delivering or supporting services at healthcare facilities, including those that provide long term care and mental health care, as well as hospitals and other healthcare facilities 

• Vehicles and personnel providing critical supplies to healthcare facilities, including those that provide long term care and mental health care, as well as hospitals and other healthcare facilities 

• News media 

• Private sector snow removal equipment engaged in, or traveling in connection with the removal or clearance of snow and ice from public or private sector facilities

• Patients traveling for the purpose of receiving urgent critical care, and persons traveling with those patients who are necessary to facilitate that urgent critical care 

• Travel necessary to maintain critical private sector facilities, services and operations, and to deliver or support critical private sector services and supplies in critical infrastructure sectors such as energy, fuel, financial systems, and the provision of critical commodities 

• Travel to support business operations that provide critical services to the public, including gasoline stations, pharmacies, food stores and hardware stores 

 

 

Given in Framingham 11:30AM 26th day of January in the year of our Lord two thousand fifteen and of the Independence of the United States of America two hundred thirty-nine. 

 

Signed,

 

 

CHARLES D. BAKER GOVERNOR 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

WILLIAM FRANCIS GAL VIN 

Secretary of the Commonwealth 

 

 

GOD SAVE THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS