Massachusetts law omissions

In a previous post, I mentioned that Massachusetts General Laws include no requirement to wait at a red traffic signal. Here are details,  from a search of the Massachusetts General Laws online, http://www.state.ma.us/legis/laws/mgl/ .

Chapter 89, section 8 of the General Laws includes rules for drivers to stop at a stop sign or flashing red signal. The section also includes the right turn on red rule, but no rule for what drivers are to do a steady red signal. The words  only indication that a driver might have to stop at a red light is by implication:

At any intersection on ways, as defined in section one of chapter ninety, in which vehicular traffic is facing a steady red indication in a traffic control signal, the driver of a vehicle which is stopped as close as practicable at the entrance to the crosswalk or the near side of the intersections or, if none, then at the entrance to the intersection in obedience to such red or stop signal, may make either (1) a right turn or (2) if on a one-way street may make a left turn to another one-way street, but shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other traffic proceeding as directed by the signal at said intersection, except that a city or town, subject to section two of chapter eighty-five, by rules, orders, ordinances, or by-laws, and the department of highways on state highways or on ways at their intersections with a state highway, may prohibit any such turns against a red or stop signal at any such intersection, and such prohibition shall be effective when a sign is erected at such intersection giving notice thereof. Any person who violates the provisions of this paragraph shall be punished by a fine of not less than thirty-five dollars.

Chapter 85, section 14 implies that a driver at a green light may normally enter an intersection, because that driver must wait for a funeral procession crossing on a red light:

An operator of a vehicle that is not part of a funeral procession shall not…

4) enter an intersection, even if the operator is facing a green traffic control signal when a funeral procession is proceeding through a red traffic control signal at the intersection as permitted under subsection (c), unless the operator may do so without crossing the path of the funeral procession. If the red signal changes to green while the funeral procession is within the intersection, the operator of the vehicle facing the green may proceed, subject to the right-of-way of a vehicle participating in a funeral procession.

The following paragraph is from comments by Ed Kearney, formerly of the National Council on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances:

UVC § 11-202(b)(1) allows drivers to enter an intersection against a steady yellow signal. It means caution because either a red signal will soon be shown or a related green signal is being ended. But Mass, Rules & Regs. for Driving on State Highways art IV, § 10(c), instructs drivers to stop unless so close to the intersection that a stop cannot be made in safety. The Massachusetts rule was deleted from the Uniform Vehicle Code in 1944 and new is in effect in only nine states other than Massachusetts. With the yellow interval lasting from 3 to 8 seconds, it is often safe and reasonable to enter the intersection even though it may also be safe to stop.

 However, these regulations apply only on state highways. The missing laws are to be found in the Model Ordinance as it is applied and updated (or not) in the ordinances of 351 cities and towns, the Massachusetts Highway Department regulations (CMR 700 9.00), Department of Conservation and Recreation regulations (CMR 302), and those of Massport and perhaps other entities.