Gov. Patrick Issues Massachusetts Travel Ban

In addition to declaring a state of emergency in Massachusetts because of the weekend winter storm, Governor Deval Patrick on Friday signed an executive order banning all non-essential motor vehicles from the state's roadways.

The ban takes effect at 4 p.m. Friday and will continue until further notice. 

According to the order, the ban does not apply to: "public safety vehicles and workers, including contract personnel; public works vehicles and workers, including contract personnel; government officials conducting official business; utility company vehicles and utility workers; healthcare workers who must travel to and from work in order to provide essential health services; news media; travel necessary to maintain and deliver critical private sector services such as energy, fuel supplies and delivery, financial systems and the delivery of critical commodities; and travel to support business operations that provide critical services to the public, including gasoline stations, food stores and hardware stores."

A violation of the travel ban could result in a $500 fine or possibly even jail time, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Director Kurt Schwartz said at a Friday press conference.

In addition, state workers stopped collecting tolls on Massachusetts roadways beginning at 2 p.m. Friday, the Boston Globe reported.

For updates and other information about the Feb. 8-9 winter storm, see Charlestown Patch's storm center.

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