Where do people who get traffic citations in Newton live?

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Michael Halle

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May 19, 2025, 6:25:45 PM5/19/25
to TAG
The new MassDOT citations database contains the zip codes for cited person, so we can figure out where they live.

Here’s a summary of the results. 

It's possible that these numbers might also be a proxy for general vehicle traffic on our main streets.

-Mike

ZIPcode Analysis for Newton Citations (2023-2024)

Data collected 2025-05-19

This analysis examines the distribution of ZIPcodes for 9,663 citations issued by the Newton Police Department in 2023 and 2024.

Note: ZIPcodes are postal routes. They do not correspond to geographical, political, or neighborhood boundaries. They are therefore not suitable for precise demographic or geographic analysis. They are used here because they are contained in the MassDOT citations database.

Key Insights

  1. Commuter Citation Pattern: While 38.7% of citations are issued to Newton residents, the majority (61.3%) are to non-residents, suggesting significant enforcement along commuter routes.
  2. Geographic Proximity Correlation: Citation frequency strongly correlates with proximity to Newton - neighboring communities (Watertown, Waltham, Brighton) have the highest non-Newton citation counts.
  3. Route 128/I-95 Corridor: Many citations are issued to residents along the Route 128/I-95 corridor (Needham, Wellesley, Waltham), suggesting significant enforcement along this major highway.
  4. Boston Commuter Axis: High citation counts for Boston and communities along the Boston-Newton corridor indicate enforcement focused on major commuting routes.
  5. Limited Long-Distance Impact: Very few citations (less than 3%) are issued to residents from outside Massachusetts, indicating Newton's enforcement has primarily local/regional impact.

Overall Geographic Distribution

  1. Massachusetts dominance: 9,393 citations (97.2%) are to Massachusetts residents
  2. Out-of-state citations: Only 261 citations (2.8%) are to people from outside Massachusetts
    • Connecticut: 33 citations
    • New Hampshire: 28 citations
    • Rhode Island: 177 citations
    • Maine: 6 citations
    • Other states/international: 17 citations

Massachusetts Regional Breakdown

1. Newton Area: 3,739 citations (38.7%)

The Newton area includes these zipcodes:

  • Newton Center (02459): 872 citations
  • West Newton (02465): 575 citations
  • Newton (02458): 554 citations
  • Newtonville (02460): 446 citations
  • Newton Highlands (02461): 314 citations
  • Newton Upper Falls (02464): 121 citations
  • Newton Lower Falls (02462): 44 citations
  • Chestnut Hill (02467): 317 citations (partially in Newton)
  • Auburndale (02466): 244 citations (part of Newton)
  • Waban (02468): 252 citations (part of Newton)

2. Adjacent Communities: Top Non-Newton Zipcodes

  • Watertown (02472): 410 citations
  • Waltham (02453): 388 citations
  • Brighton (02135): 361 citations
  • West Roxbury (02132): 209 citations
  • Needham (02492): 142 citations
  • Needham Heights (02494): 124 citations
  • Wellesley Hills (02481): 108 citations
  • Natick (01760): 107 citations
  • Waltham (02451): 99 citations
  • Framingham (01702): 99 citations

3. Regional Clusters

Boston Area: 1,897 citations (19.6%)

The Boston area includes Boston proper and immediate surrounding neighborhoods:

  • Allston, Brighton (021), Dorchester, Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, East Boston, Charlestown, South Boston, Back Bay, Fenway, South End

Greater Boston West (Non-Newton): 1,740 citations (18.0%)

This region includes western suburbs in the 024xx zipcode range, excluding Newton:

  • Watertown, Waltham, Belmont, Cambridge, Arlington, Lexington, Needham, Wellesley, Brookline

Middlesex County (North): 555 citations (5.7%)

This region includes northern Middlesex County (017xx):

  • Lowell, Billerica, Chelmsford, Tewksbury, Wilmington, Reading, Woburn, Burlington, Bedford, Concord, Acton, Maynard

Metrowest/Framingham Area: 443 citations (4.6%)

This region includes the communities west of Newton along Route 9 and I-90:

  • Framingham, Natick, Ashland, Holliston, Southborough, Westborough, Northborough, Marlborough, Hudson, Sudbury, Wayland

North Shore/Essex County: 226 citations (2.3%)

This region includes communities north of Boston (018xx):

  • Lynn, Salem, Beverly, Peabody, Danvers, Gloucester, Ipswich, Newburyport, Amesbury, Haverhill, Lawrence, Andover

Central MA/Worcester: 198 citations (2.0%)

This region includes central Massachusetts (014xx, 015xx, 016xx):

  • Worcester, Fitchburg, Leominster, Gardner, Clinton, Marlborough, Milford, Uxbridge, Webster, Southbridge

Brockton/South Shore: 187 citations (1.9%)

This region includes communities south of Boston (023xx):

  • Brockton, Abington, Whitman, Rockland, Hanover, Norwell, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, Bridgewater, Middleborough



Nedeljkovic, Srdjan S.,MD

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May 19, 2025, 8:41:19 PM5/19/25
to Michael Halle, TAG
Hi Mike,

Thank you! This is a very interesting analysis.

It would appear that people who live in the Newton Centre zip code "win" the prize for most citations. However, it may have something to do with population:

02459: 18,604 (0.05 citations/person)
02465: 11,297 (0.05 citations/person)
02458: 13,308 (0.04 citations/person)
02460: 10,033 (0.04 citations/person)
02461:   6,717 (0.05 citations/person)

If one looked just at the population who drives, the numbers may be even more similar.

Srdj
From: newt...@googlegroups.com <newt...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Michael Halle <m...@halle.us>
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Subject: Where do people who get traffic citations in Newton live?
 

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Michael Halle

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May 19, 2025, 9:19:03 PM5/19/25
to Nedeljkovic, Srdjan S.,MD, TAG
I agree. I would expect the Newton numbers to be related directly to population and where enforcement is.

I think the numbers related to Newton in total and to neighboring communities are more interesting.

My guess is that over a two year period, we get a pretty good mix of enforcement on main thoroughfares (I wouldn’t expect much enforcement on quiet neighborhood streets). 

If that’s the case, then at least on those streets, the citation data gives us at least a rough estimate about who is driving in Newton. 

Also, keep in mind these are NPD citations. Very little enforcement is done by NPD on major state roads. (The AI analysis is a little off here implicating 90/95/128.) The citations in the data are very much on local roadways, not distorted by the large amount of traffic on the Pike or 128.

—Mike

jane hanser

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May 19, 2025, 9:29:37 PM5/19/25
to Michael Halle, Nedeljkovic, Srdjan S.,MD, TAG
We used to live off of Dedham Rd., btwn Oak Hill Middle School and Memorial Spaulding off Brookline St. It was 02459. We now live north of Comm Ave close to NNHS and it’s still 02459. So you also have to factor in the square mileage of each zip code. 

Andreae Downs

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May 20, 2025, 10:14:08 AM5/20/25
to jane hanser, Michael Halle, Srdjan S. Nedeljkovic MD, TAG
I wonder if the high % of MA drivers cited is just because we are far from the borders (so fewer out of staters) or whether it’s the old Masshole driver stereotype proving itself. You would need to compare with, say Fall River or North Adams to really know

On May 19, 2025, at 9:29 PM, 'jane hanser' via TAG <Newt...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

 We used to live off of Dedham Rd., btwn Oak Hill Middle School and Memorial Spaulding off Brookline St. It was 02459. We now live north of Comm Ave close to NNHS and it’s still 02459. So you also have to factor in the square mileage of each zip code. 

jane hanser

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May 20, 2025, 10:40:46 AM5/20/25
to Andreae Downs, Michael Halle, Srdjan S. Nedeljkovic MD, TAG
All of that - yes. 

Plus are these moving violations or parking violations from NC? 

Michael Halle

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May 20, 2025, 11:05:40 AM5/20/25
to TAG
No parking violations.

Here’s the list of all citation types and counts for the NPD in 2023 and 2024.

—Mike

Massachusetts Traffic Violations (2025)

Most Common Traffic Violations (Top 10)

ViolationStatuteCount
STOP/YIELD, FAIL TOc89 §93,812
SPEEDING IN VIOL SPECIAL REGULATIONc90 §181,069
ELECTRONIC DEVICE, USE WHILE OPERATING MV, 1ST OFFENSEc90 §13B904
SPEEDING RATE OF SPEED EXCEEDING POSTED LIMITc90 §17699
UNREGISTERED MOTOR VEHICLEc90 §9521
MARKED LANES VIOLATIONc89 §4A429
INSPECTION/STICKER, NOc90 §20334
TURN, IMPROPERc90 §14293
LIGHTS VIOLATION, MVc90 §7220
CROSSWALK VIOLATIONc89 §11207

All Traffic Violations by Category

Moving Violations

ViolationStatuteCount
STOP/YIELD, FAIL TOc89 §93,812
SPEEDING IN VIOL SPECIAL REGULATIONc90 §181,069
SPEEDING RATE OF SPEED EXCEEDING POSTED LIMITc90 §17699
MARKED LANES VIOLATIONc89 §4A429
TURN, IMPROPERc90 §14293
CROSSWALK VIOLATIONc89 §11207
YIELD AT INTERSECTION, FAILc89 §894
OPERATION OF MOTOR VEHICLE, IMPROPERc90 §1638
NEGLIGENT OPERATION OF MOTOR VEHICLEc90 §24(2)(a)26
SIGNAL, FAIL TOc90 §14B16
UNSAFE OPERATION OF MVc90 §1312
SLOW, FAIL TOc90 §1411
PASSING VIOLATIONc89 §27
KEEP RIGHT ON HILL/OBSTRUCTED VIEW, FLc89 §46
BREAKDOWN LANE VIOLATIONc89 §4B6
SPEEDING RATE OF SPEED GREATER THAN REASONABLEc90 §176
EMERGENCY VEHICLE, OBSTRUCTc89 §7A5
SCHOOL BUS, FAIL STOP FORc90 §144
PEDESTRIAN VIOLATIONc90 §18A3
RIGHT LANE, FAIL DRIVE INc89 §4B1
LEFT LANE RESTRICTION VIOLATIONc89 §4C1
MOTOR VEH DOOR, NEGLIGENTLY OPENc90 §141
PEDESTRIAN VIOLATION, 4TH OFFENSEc90 §18A1

Electronic Device Violations

ViolationStatuteCount
ELECTRONIC DEVICE, USE WHILE OPERATING MV, 1ST OFFENSEc90 §13B904
ELECTRONIC DEVICE, USE WHILE OPERATING MV, 2ND OFFENSEc90 §13B23
MOBILE PHONE, OPERATOR USE IMPROPERLYc90 §1311
ELECTRONIC DEVICE, USE WHILE OPERATING MV, 3RD OR SUBSQ OFFENSEc90 §13B2
MOBILE PHONE, OPERATOR UNDER 18 USEc90 §8M1

Registration and License Violations

ViolationStatuteCount
UNREGISTERED MOTOR VEHICLEc90 §9521
INSPECTION/STICKER, NOc90 §20334
UNLICENSED OPERATION OF MVc90 §10124
LICENSE NOT IN POSSESSIONc90 §1188
REGISTRATION NOT IN POSSESSIONc90 §1165
NUMBER PLATE VIOLATIONc90 §659
REGISTRATION STICKER MISSING540 CMR §2.05(6)(a)53
LICENSE SUSPENDED, OP MV WITHc90 §2348
REGISTRATION SUSPENDED, OP MV WITHc90 §2345
NUMBER PLATE VIOLATION TO CONCEAL IDc90 §2319
NUMBER PLATE MISSINGc90 §911
LICENSE SUSPENDED, OP MV WITH, SUBSQ. OFF.c90 §234
NAME/ADDRESS CHANGE, FL NOTIFY RMV OFc90 §26A4
REGISTRATION SUSPENDED, OP MV, SUBSQ.OFFc90 §233
RMV DOCUMENT, POSSESS/USE FALSE/STOLENc90 §24B3
RMV DOCUMENT, FORGE/MISUSEc90 §24B2
REGISTER MV IMPROPERLY TO AVOID TAXES/PREMIUMSc90 §3½(c)(¶2)1
VEHICLE ID NUMBER NOT DISPLAYEDc90 §7R1

Equipment Violations

ViolationStatuteCount
LIGHTS VIOLATION, MVc90 §7220
EQUIPMENT VIOLATION, MISCELLANEOUS MVc90 §763
SAFETY STANDARDS, MV NOT MEETING RMVc90 §7A & §209
WINDOW OBSTRUCTED/NONTRANSPARENTc90 §9D9
BRAKES VIOLATION, MVc90 §77
AFTERMARKET LIGHTING, NONCOMPLIANT540 CMR §22.073
LIGHTS VIOLATIONc85 §153
HEADLIGHTS, FAIL DIM540 CMR §22.05(2)2
HORN VIOLATION, MVc90 §72
SAFETY GLASS VIOLATIONc90 §9A1
TIRE TREAD DEPTH VIOLATIONc90 §7Q1

Safety Violations

ViolationStatuteCount
SEAT BELT, FAIL WEARc90 §13A15
CHILD UNDER 8 YEARS & UNDER 58 INCHES WITHOUT CARSEATc90 §7AA4
LOAD UNSECURED/UNCOVEREDc85 §364
CHILD 8-12 OR OVER 57 INCHES WITHOUT SEAT BELTc90 §7AA1

Serious Offenses

ViolationStatuteCount
LEAVE SCENE OF PROPERTY DAMAGEc90 §24(2)(a)42
OUI-LIQUOR OR .08%c90 §24(1)(a)(1)15
STOP FOR POLICE, FAILc90 §256
USE MV WITHOUT AUTHORITYc90 §24(2)(a)5
UNINSURED MOTOR VEHICLEc90 §34J50
ALCOHOL IN MV, POSSESS OPEN CONTAINER OFc90 §24I4
LEAVE SCENE OF PERSONAL INJURYc90 §24(2)(a½)(1)2
OUI-DRUGSc90 §24(1)(a)(1)2
OUI-LIQUOR OR .08%, 3RD OFFENSEc90 §24(1)(a)(1)2
RECKLESS OPERATION OF MOTOR VEHICLEc90 §24(2)(a)2
ABANDON MVc90 §22B(a)1
LICENSE SUSPENDED FOR OUI, OUI WHILEc90 §231
OUI-LIQUOR OR .08% & SERIOUS INJURYc90 §24L(2)1
OUI-LIQUOR OR .08% & SERIOUS INJURY & NEGLIGENTc90 §24L(1)1

Other Violations

ViolationStatuteCount
MISCELLANEOUS MUNIC MOTOR VEHICLE ORDINANCE/BYLAW VIOL55555592
MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY VIOLATION540 CMR §14.035
UNLICENSED OPERATOR, EMPLOYc90 §12(a)4
UNLICENSED/SUSPENDED OPERATION OF MV, PERMITc90 §12(b)4
OVERSIZE MVc90 §193
TIRE WIDTH BY-LAW VIOLATIONc40 §21(9)1
MUNICIPAL BY-LAW VIOLATIONc85 §101
MOPED VIOLATIONc90 §1B1
JUNIOR OPERATOR WITH PASSENGER UNDER 18c90 §81

Statistics Summary

  • Total number of different violations: 84
  • Total number of citations: 10,316
  • Most common violation: Failure to stop/yield (37% of all citations)
  • Top 3 violations account for over 55% of all citations


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