Buffer Zones
The Buffer Zone Law (2007) establishes a fixed 35-foot buffer zone around the entrances and driveways of all reproductive health facilities in Massachusetts. What was the previous law? The previous Massachusetts Buffer Zone Law (2000) resulted in a six-foot “bubble zone” within an 18-foot zone of regulated conduct outside of reproductive health care facilities. This law had proven to be ineffective due to its vagueness and complexity, and harassment is still a very real problem at clinics across the Commonwealth. Governor Deval Patrick signed An Act Relative to Public Safety into law on November 13, 2007. The new Buffer Zone Law (2007) established a fixed 35-foot buffer zone surrounding the entrances and driveways of all of the reproductive health facilities in the state.
Why was a new law necessary?
An Act Relative to Public Safety was necessary to protect those who seek and provide reproductive health care. The previous Buffer Zone law did little to protect individuals who are entering the reproductive health care facilities. Clinics have documented the following violations by protestors:
• Dressing up as Boston Police officers and asking for patients' names and contact information • Blocking access to the front door • Consistent screaming at patients/employees inside the "bubble zone" • Touching arms, shoulders, or backs of patients or employees • Standing in front of cars and/or the keypad to block patient/employee access to the garage • Photographing and filming into patient/employee cars • Throwing anti-choice literature and pamphlets in cars entering the garage A survey of 10 Massachusetts reproductive health clinics was conducted in December 2006. The results showed that most of the clinics have a regular presence of protestors. All of the clinics surveyed felt that expanding the buffer zone was an important step, regardless of whether their clinic was affected by protestors at the time.
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