CRIMINAL OFFENCES RELATIVE TO BILLS OF LADING

M.G.L. pt. Part I, tit. Title XV, ch. c. 108

in effect

M.G.L. c. 108, § 42 Fraudulent issuance or aiding in issuance; penalty; bill of lading defined

c. 108, § 42. Fraudulent issuance or aiding in issuance; penalty; bill of lading defined Section 42. An officer, agent or servant of a carrier, who with intent to defraud issues, or aids in issuing, a bill of lading knowing that all or any part of the goods for which it is issued have not been received by the carrier, or by an agent of such carrier or by a connecting carrier, or are not under the carrier's control at the time of issuing the same, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years or in a jail or house of correction for not more than two and one half years, or both. The word bill as used in sections forty-three to forty-eight, inclusive, shall mean ''bill of lading''.

M.G.L. c. 108, § 43 False statement in bill

c. 108, § 43. False statement in bill Section 43. An officer, agent, or servant of a carrier, who with intent to defraud issues, or aids in issuing, a bill for goods, knowing that it contains a false statement, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.

M.G.L. c. 108, § 44 Issuance of unmarked duplicate bill

c. 108, § 44. Issuance of unmarked duplicate bill Section 44. An officer, agent or servant of a carrier, who with intent to defraud issues, or aids in issuing, a duplicate or additional negotiable bill for goods in violation of section seven—four hundred and two of chapter one hundred and six, knowing that a former negotiable bill for the same goods or any part of them is outstanding and uncancelled, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years or in a jail or house of correction for not more than two and one half years, or both.

M.G.L. c. 108, § 45 Negotiation of bill for goods subject to mortgage or lien

c. 108, § 45. Negotiation of bill for goods subject to mortgage or lien Section 45. A person who ships goods to which he has not title, or upon which there is a lien or mortgage, and who takes for such goods a negotiable bill which he afterward negotiates for value with intent to deceive, and without disclosing his want of title or the existence of the lien or mortgage, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.

M.G.L. c. 108, § 46 Negotiation or transfer of bill when goods not in carrier's possession

c. 108, § 46. Negotiation or transfer of bill when goods not in carrier's possession Section 46. A person who with intent to deceive negotiates or transfers for value a bill, knowing that any or all of the goods which by its terms appear to have been received for transportation by the carrier which issued the bill, are not in the possession or control of such carrier, or of a connecting carrier, without disclosing this fact, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years or in a jail or house of correction for not more than two and one half years, or both.

M.G.L. c. 108, § 47 Inducing carrier to issue bill when goods have not been received

c. 108, § 47. Inducing carrier to issue bill when goods have not been received Section 47. A person who with intent to defraud secures the issue by a carrier of a bill, knowing that at the time of such issue, any or all of the goods described in such bill as received for transportation have not been so received by such carrier, or by an agent of such carrier or a connecting carrier, or are not under the carrier's control, by inducing an officer, agent, or servant of such carrier falsely to believe that such goods have been so received or are under the carrier's control, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years or in a jail or house of correction for not more than two and one half years, or both.

M.G.L. c. 108, § 48 Issuance of unmarked non-negotiable bill

c. 108, § 48. Issuance of unmarked non-negotiable bill Section 48. A person who with intent to defraud issues, or aids in issuing, a non-negotiable bill without the words ''not negotiable'' placed plainly upon the face thereof, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years or in a jail or house of correction for not more than two and one half years, or both.

Source: Massachusetts General Court (malegislature.gov)URL: https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXV/Chapter108Fetched: 10/20/2026