2013 -- S 0661

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LC01467

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES

     Introduced By: Senators Felag, McCaffrey, and Walaska

     Date Introduced: March 06, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 31-15-13 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-15 entitled "Passing,

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Use of Lanes, and Rules of the Road" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     31-15-13. Divided highways. -- Whenever any highway has been divided into two (2)

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roadways by leaving an unpaved intervening space or by a physical barrier or clearly indicated

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dividing section so constructed as to impede vehicular traffic, every vehicle shall be driven only

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upon the right-hand roadway and no vehicle shall be driven over, across, or within a dividing

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space, barrier, or section, except through an opening in the physical barrier or dividing section or

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space or at a crossover or intersection established by public authority. Violations of this section

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are subject to fines enumerated in section 31-41.1-4.

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     SECTION 2. Section 31-20-13 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-20 entitled "Special

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Stops Required" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     31-20-13. School buses stopped on divided highway or in loading zone. -- When

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operating a vehicle upon a highway, the driver need not stop upon meeting or passing a bus

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marked as "school bus" in accordance with section 31-20-11 in the following circumstances:

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      (1) When the a highway is a divided highway by a median strip separating opposing

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lanes of traffic and the bus is stopped in the roadway on one side of the median strip divided

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highway and the driver is operating on the other side of it.

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      (2) When the bus is stopped in a loading zone adjacent to a limited access highway and

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pedestrians are not permitted to cross the highway.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01467

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES

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     This act would clarify the meaning of divided highway as any highway that has been

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divided into two (2) roadways by leaving an unpaved intervening space or by a physical barrier.

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This act would also allow the driver of a motor vehicle to not stop upon meeting a bus marked as

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"school bus" under certain circumstances, such as when a highway is a divided highway and

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when a bus is stopped in a loading zone.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC01467

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