2014 -- S 2721

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LC004913

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS

     

     Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, Goodwin, and Goldin

     Date Introduced: March 05, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     (by request)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 37-15-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 37-15 entitled "Litter

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Control and Recycling" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     37-15-7. Penalties. -- (a) Any person convicted of a first violation of this chapter shall,

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except where a penalty is specifically set forth, be subject to a fine of not less than eighty-five

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dollars ($85.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) one thousand dollars ($1,000). In

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addition to or in lieu of the fine imposed hereunder, the person so convicted may be ordered to

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pick up litter for not less than two (2), nor more than twenty-five (25) hours.

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      (b) Any person convicted of a second or subsequent violation of this chapter shall,

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except where a penalty is specifically set forth, be subject to a fine of not less than three hundred

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dollars ($300) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) five thousand dollars ($5,000). In

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addition to or in lieu of the fine imposed upon a second or subsequent violation of this chapter,

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the person so convicted may be ordered to pick up litter for not less than four (4), nor more than

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fifty (50) hours.

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      (c) Jurisdiction to punish violators of the provisions of this chapter is conferred on the

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traffic tribunal.

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      (d) Any person convicted of a violation of this chapter shall, in addition to all other

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penalties, be liable for the removal or cost of removal of all litter illegally disposed of by that

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person. The traffic tribunal may hold the registration of any vehicle owned by the violator and

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used in the act of littering until the aforementioned liability is satisfied.

 

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      (e) The funds received by a state law enforcement agency shall be deposited as general

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revenues.

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      (f) Penalties of eighty-five dollars ($85.00) for violations of section 37-15-7 may be

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disposed of without the necessity of personally appearing before the traffic tribunal. Said penalty

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may be handled administratively by mailing a check or money order, together with properly

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executed form provided to the appropriate address as set forth in the summons issued by the

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enforcing agent.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS

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     This act would raise the maximum penalties for littering from five hundred dollars ($500)

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to one thousand dollars ($1000) for the first offense and from five hundred dollars ($500) to five

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thousand dollars ($5,000) for a subsequent offense.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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