2022 -- S 2533

========

LC005174

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- TRESPASS AND VANDALISM

     Introduced By: Senators Ciccone, Lombardo, and F Lombardi

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2022

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 11-44-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-44 entitled "Trespass and

Vandalism" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     11-44-1. Vandalism -- Obstruction of lawful pursuits.

     (a) Every person who shall willfully and maliciously or mischievously injure or deface or

destroy or write upon, paint, or otherwise deface the property of another, or obstruct the use of the

property of another, or obstruct another in the prosecution of his or her lawful business or pursuits,

in any manner, the punishment of which is not specifically provided for by statute, shall be guilty

of a petty misdemeanor and shall be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) five hundred

dollars ($500) and/or be imprisoned not exceeding one year one month, and shall be liable to make

restitution for the injury or damage caused. Every person convicted of a first offense under this

section shall be required to perform up to one hundred (100) hours one weekend of public

community restitution work, and for a second or subsequent conviction shall be required to perform

up to two hundred (200) hours two (2) weekends of public community restitution work. A weekend

of public community service shall be interpreted to mean from Friday at six o'clock (6:00) p.m.

through Sunday at six o'clock (6:00) p.m. Provided, further that every person who shall willfully

and maliciously or mischievously injure or destroy or write upon, paint or otherwise deface

government property, or obstruct the use of that property, shall be punished in accordance with this

statute. Jurisdiction for matters involving government property shall be concurrent with the district

court or the respective city or town police or municipal court.

     (b) Where the provisions of The Domestic Violence Prevention Act, chapter 29 of title 12,

are applicable, the penalties for violation of this section shall also include the penalties as provided

in § 12-29-5.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC005174

========

LC005174 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- TRESPASS AND VANDALISM

***

     This act would make vandalism punishable as a petty misdemeanor with penalties of a five

hundred dollar ($500) fine and imprisonment of up to one month along with community service

requirements.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC005174

========

LC005174 - Page 3 of 3