A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Title 31 of the General Laws entitled "Motor and Other Vehicles" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
CHAPTER 27.1
AGGRESSIVE DRIVING
31-27.1-1. Findings. -- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that aggressive driving causes two-thirds (2/3) of fatal accidents and one-third (1/3) of all accidents. The General Assembly finds that aggressive driving has become a significant public safety concern in recent years and specific legislation designed to severely curtail this problem driving behavior is in the public interest.
31-27.1-2. Title. -- This chapter may be cited as the "Aggressive Driving Act."
31-27.1-3. Definition. -- "Aggressive driving" means that an individual, coincident to operating a motor vehicle in violation of 31-14-1 et seq., engages in conduct which violates two (2) or more of the following sections of law:
(a) obedience to traffic control devices -- 31-13-4;
(b) overtaking on the right -- 31-15-5;
(c) driving within a traffic lane -- 31-15-1;
(d) following too closely -- interval between vehicles 31-15-12;
(e) yielding right of way -- 31-15-12.1, 31-17-1, 31-17-2, 31-17-4, 31-17-6, 31-17-7 and 31-17-8;
(f) entering the roadway -- 31-15-14, 31-17-3 and 31-17-5;
(g) use of turn signals -- 31-16-5, 31-16-6, 31-16-8 and 31-16-9;
(h) relating to school buses, special stops, stop signs and yield signs -- 31-20-1 et seq.; and
(i) use of emergency break-down lane for travel -- 31-15-16.
31-27.1-4. Penalties. -- (a) Whoever violates this chapter shall be fined not less than two hundred sixty dollars ($260) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500). In addition, any person convicted of a first offense of aggressive driving may be required to attend an educational program approved by the department of motor vehicles designed to improve the safety and habits of drivers and may be subject to a minimum thirty (30) days suspension of his/her driver's license.
(b) The lesser included offenses which, in total, may constitute aggressive driving, may be prosecuted separately.
(c) All violations of this chapter shall be heard and determined by the traffic tribunal pursuant to the regulations promulgated by the chief judge of the district court.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.