Birdnow's Aviary

February 02, 2026

Massachusetts to Restrict Right to Mobility

Timothy Birdnow

Notice the Orwellian naming of this bill "The Freedom to Move Act". It's whole purpose is to restrict freedom of movement.

I would argue it rather should be the Freedom to Move out of Massachusetts Act because that's what it will encourage.

Massachusetts on Track to Set Mileage Limits for Drivers

The article states:

The bill also establishes advisory councils and requires state agencies, including the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, to factor VMT reduction into project development and funding decisions. In theory, this means greater emphasis on public transit, transit-oriented development, walking and biking infrastructure, and land-use policies designed to shorten commutes. Supporters emphasize that the legislation does not ban cars, restrict ownership, or mandate lifestyle changes. It simply provides a framework for offering residents more options.

This is the implementation of U.N. Agenda 21 on a statewide basis, no question. All of these things were in the U.N. document.

While there may not be direct taxation on those who drive more, there will be a series of unfortunate events that will act to defacto drive people out of cars and onto buses and bicycles and on foot. And once you get the framework in place you will get these "advisory boards" to then propose direct taxation on mileage and who could disagree once the precedent has been set for government involvement?

I've long argued Americans have a fundamental right to move about as they see fit, provided of course they do so on their own dime. See my article on the right to mobility.

The first thing any tyrant has to do is restrict the People's right to mobility. You can't control what you can't catch. A mobile people can outrun you. Oh, I know that sounds a bit flippant but the fact remains if you can travel, if you can go places and the state cannot know where you are or what you are doing, if you can organize and plan and get things you need, you can oppose them. A top priority for the statist is to anchor people in place, or limit them so they can't thwart you.

That's what this has always been about, shepherding the public into corrals where they can be controlled. It's how you control a herd of cattle or sheep, after all.

God made us free on the Earth and what right do Liberals have to restrict that? While there is no right to move about expressly granted in the Constitution the Founders never thought so basic a concept would have to be formally written into it. The Tenth Amendment limits the power of state governments as well as the Federal government on so basic a matter. I would add the First Amendment which expressly states the public has the right to assemble peaceably would also be applicable. And let us not forget Privileges and Immunities Clause of Article IV which states:

"The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States."

This follows Article IV of the old Articles of Confederation which explicitly granted the right to travel. The framers of the Constitution thought it patently obvious so let it out of the latter document.

And a number of court rulings have made it plain this applies to the ability to travel where one pleases. We have had the circuit court ruling in Corfield v. Coryell, 6 Fed. Cas. 546 (1823), Paul v. Virginia, 75 U.S. 168 (1869) reinforced that.

The U.S. Supreme Court in Crandall v. Nevada, 73 U.S. 35 (1868) declared freedom of movement a fundamental right.

There were numerous other court rulings, although SCOTUS never made it a Federal issue. But that may have to change if leftist states begin restricting that right, which the Court has rules is a fundamental Constitutional right.

Of course the Left doesn't recognize rights as such; they are privileges granted by the State, not something granted by God.

Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at 11:41 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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1 If they make this a law I wonder how long it will be observed?

Posted by: Dana Mathewson at February 04, 2026 12:30 AM (/xiww)

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