2018 -- H 7965

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

     Introduced By: Representatives Williams, Craven, Barros, Walsh, and Perez

     Date Introduced: March 15, 2018

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-21 of the General Laws entitled "Health and Safety of Pupils" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     16-21-37. Enhanced school traffic safety.

     (a) In addition to any federally mandated signage required pursuant to the Manual on

Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) to be used on roadways in school areas, any school

zone, located in the city of Providence, which for purposes of this section is defined as any area

within a one-quarter (1/4) mile radius of any type of school in the city of Providence, shall

include within one hundred feet (100') of the school zone permanent signage which shall:

     (1) Conform to the manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for "speed light sign

beacons" and shall consist of one or more signal sections of a standard traffic control signal face,

with a flashing circular yellow signal indication in each signal section; and

     (2) Remain flashing and operational during school hours or during the times that any

automated school-zone-speed-enforcement system pursuant to chapter 41.3 of title 31 is

operational.

     (b) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education in consultation with the

director of the department of transportation may determine additional locations to be subject to

this section upon a determination that the enhanced school traffic safety measures are necessary

to provide adequate safety and notice of a school zone.

     SECTION 2. Section 31-41.3-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-41.3 entitled

"Automated School-Zone-Speed-Enforcement System Act of 2016" is hereby amended to read as

follows:

     31-41.3-4. Automated school-zone-speed-enforcement system operational

requirements and certification.

     No automated school-zone-speed-enforcement system shall be used in the state of Rhode

Island unless the system has been approved and certified for use in the state by the director of the

department of transportation. The director of the department of transportation, in cooperation with

the state police, shall require that any automated school-zone-speed-enforcement system

approved and certified for use in the state of Rhode Island meets the following requirements:

     (1) All automated school-zone-speed-enforcement systems operated under this chapter

shall record the speed of vehicles within plus or minus one mile per hour of the actual speed.

     (2) All automated school-zone-speed-enforcement systems operated under this chapter

shall record at least two (2) photographic images of the vehicle exceeding the speed limit, one of

which shall include the license plate attached to the rear of the vehicle.

     (3) All automated school-zone-speed-enforcement systems operated under this chapter

shall, at the time of violation, imprint upon the photographic images of vehicles exceeding the

speed limit:

     (i) The date and time of the violation; and

     (ii) The identity of the street, or school zone being monitored, and location upon that

street, or within that school zone, including the direction of travel and lane of travel; this

requirement may be met with code designations; and

     (iii) The posted or lawfully designated speed limit for the street or school zone being

monitored; and

     (iv) The monitored speed of the vehicle identified in the photographic images as

exceeding the posted or lawfully designated school zone speed limit; and

     (v) The consecutive event number of each photograph taken.

     (4) At least one hundred feet (100') prior to entering an automated school-zone area

where a speed-enforcement system is being operated, signs shall be erected warning motorists

that they will be entering an area monitored by an automated speed-zone-enforcement system and

that violators of speed limitations may be prosecuted. Provided further, signs required pursuant to

this section shall be operational during school hours or wherever school-zone-speed-enforcement

systems are operational and shall comply with the standards established pursuant to the Manual

on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) for "speed light sign beacons"; and provided

further, shall consist of one or more signal sections of a standard traffic control signal face, with a

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flashing circular yellow signal indication in each signal section.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

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     This act would require "speed limit sign beacons" to be installed one hundred feet (100')

from any school zone in the city of Providence or wherever there is an automated school-zone-

speed-enforcement system and would further allow their installation statewide if necessary.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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