Section 272:73B - Selling or attempt to sell stolen commemorative grave marker; receiving, retention of disposal of stolen commemorative grave marker(a) For purposes of this section, "commemorative grave marker" shall mean a grave marker, headstone, monument, structure, medallion or other object designed to commemorate the grave of a veteran, police officer or firefighter.(b) Whoever sells or attempts to sell a commemorative grave marker that has been stolen and the person knows or should know the commemorative grave marker to be stolen, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $5,000 for a first offense and for a second or subsequent offense by imprisonment in a state prison for not more than 5 years or by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 2 1/2 years and by a fine of not more than $5,000.(c) Whoever receives, retains or disposes of a commemorative grave marker that the person knows or should know to be stolen, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $5,000; provided, however, that no such penalty shall be imposed upon: (i) a person who receives or retains the commemorative grave marker with the intent to return it to a cemetery, a member of law enforcement, a member of a fire department, a member of the executive office of veterans' services, a non-profit veterans' services group or a veterans' agent of a city or town; or (ii) a person who in fact disposes of the commemorative grave marker by returning it to a cemetery, a member of law enforcement, a member of a fire department, a member of the executive office of veterans' services, a non-profit veterans' services group or a veterans' agent of a city or town.Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 272, § 272:73B
Amended by Acts 2024, c. 178,§ 50, eff. 8/8/2024.Added by Acts 2015 , c. 129, § 1, eff. 2/21/2016.