Massachusetts General Laws Part I. Administration of the Government (Ch. 1-182) Ch. 130, § 39

No person shall tend, lift, raise or draw a lobster or crab pot or trap, or take lobsters or edible crabs from such a pot or trap, or catch or take lobsters from the coastal waters by any means, except during the period from one half hour before sunrise until one half hour after sunset, except that traps may be taken up by the owner or by his employee or agent, if licensed under section thirty-eight, at any time when they are endangered by storms, and except that the director, deputy directors of enforcement, chiefs of enforcement, deputy chiefs of enforcement, environmental police officers and deputy environmental police officers may at any time lift, raise or draw such pot or trap with its contents, if any, for the purpose of inspection provided in this chapter.