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Appeals Court hears whether dirt bike on Tremont Street qualified as a "motor vehicle" in Commonwealth v. Hall
Summary
At an Appeals Court hearing in Boston, defense and Commonwealth lawyers disputed whether a dirt bike involved in a Tremont Street crash met Massachusetts’ statutory definition of a "motor vehicle," turning on precedent and which statutes apply to motorized bicycles and recreational vehicles.
May it please the court: the Massachusetts Appeals Court heard oral argument Monday over whether a dirt bike ridden on Tremont Street should be treated under the Commonwealth’s motor-vehicle statutes or under distinct provisions for motorized or recreational bicycles, a legal distinction that affects which offenses and penalties apply.
The issue matters because the defendant, Rufus Hall, was convicted and the trial judge denied his motion for a required finding of not guilty; on appeal, defense counsel argued the evidence was legally insufficient to prove the vehicle was a "motor vehicle" under Chapter 90 definitions, while the Commonwealth argued that a recreational or dirt bike used on a public way is a motor vehicle under Chapter 90B.
Daniel Di Maria, defense attorney for Rufus Hall, told the court the Commonwealth “failed to prove it was a motor vehicle and not a motorized bicycle.” Di Maria argued the record lacks required technical evidence —…
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