Chapter 402 |
2025 -- S 0576 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 07/02/2025 |
A N A C T |
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MISCELLANEOUS RULES |
Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Raptakis, Tikoian, McKenney, and Burke |
Date Introduced: February 26, 2025 |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
SECTION 1. Sections 31-22-30 and 31-22-31 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-22 |
entitled "Miscellaneous Rules" are hereby amended to read as follows: |
31-22-30. Text messaging while operating a motor vehicle Distracted driving |
prohibited while operating a motor vehicle. |
(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings: |
(1) “Driving” means operating a motor vehicle on a public road, including operation while |
temporarily stationary because of traffic, a traffic light or stop sign, or otherwise, but does not |
include operating a motor vehicle when the vehicle has pulled over to the side of, or off, an active |
roadway and has stopped in a location where it can safely remain stationary. |
(2) “Hands free” means the manner in which a wireless handset is operated for the purpose |
of composing, reading, or sending text messages by using an internal feature or function, or through |
an attachment or addition, including, but not limited to, an earpiece, headset, remote microphone, |
or short-range wireless connection, thereby allowing the user to operate said device without the use |
of hands, except to activate, deactivate, or initiate a feature or function thereof. |
(3) “Inoperability” means a motor vehicle that is incapable of being operated or being |
operated in a safe and prudent manner due to mechanical failure, including, but not limited to, |
engine overheating or tire failure. |
(4) “Motor vehicle” means any vehicle that is self-propelled by a motor, including, but not |
limited to: automobiles, trucks, vans, construction vehicles, etc. |
(5) “Person” means any natural person, corporation, unincorporated association, firm, |
partnership, joint venture, joint stock association, or other entity or business organization of any |
kind. |
(6) “Personal wireless communication device” means a hand-held device through which |
personal wireless services (commercial mobile services, unlicensed wireless services, and common |
carrier wireless exchange access services) are transmitted, but does not include a global navigation |
satellite receiver used for positioning, emergency notification, or navigation purposes. |
(7) “Stopped” means not in motion. |
(8) “Text message,” also referred to as short messaging service (SMS), means the process |
by which users send, read, or receive messages on a wireless handset, including text messages, |
instant messages, electronic messages, or e-mails, in order to communicate with any person or |
device. |
(9) “Use” means to operate a wireless handset or a personal wireless communication device |
in a manner not consistent with hands-free operation. |
(10) “Wireless handset” means a portable electronic or computing device, including |
cellular telephones mobile devices and personal digital assistants (PDAs), capable of transmitting |
data in the form of a text message. |
(b) No person shall use a wireless handset or personal wireless communication device to |
compose, read, or send text messages, or for any other purpose while driving a motor vehicle on |
any public street or public highway within the state of Rhode Island. except for: |
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b), this section shall not be construed to |
prohibit the use of any wireless handset or personal wireless communication device by: |
(1) Any law enforcement, public safety or police officers, emergency services officials, |
first aid, emergency medical technicians and personnel, and fire safety officials in the performance |
of duties arising out of, and in the course of, their employment as such; |
(2) A person using a wireless handset to contact an individual listed in subsection (c)(b)(1); |
(3) A person using a wireless handset or personal wireless communication device inside a |
motor vehicle while such motor vehicle is parked, standing, or stopped and is removed from the |
flow of traffic, in accordance with applicable laws, rules, or ordinances, or is stopped due to the |
inoperability of such motor vehicle; or |
(4) A person activating, viewing, or deactivating a global positioning or navigation device |
or a global positioning or navigation application. while the handset is mounted or otherwise affixed |
to the vehicle to allow for hands-free operation; or |
(5) The use of a personal wireless communication device in a hands-free manner, with a |
hands-free accessory, or with the activation or deactivation of a feature or function of the personal |
wireless communication device with the motion of a single swipe or tap of the finger of the driver. |
(d)(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a person driving a motor vehicle |
from utilizing a hands-free wireless handset. |
The nonemergency use by pilot/escort vehicle drivers of portable electronic devices is |
prohibited. |
(e)(d) Any person who violates any of the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction, |
be subject to a fine of one hundred dollars ($100), or a license suspension for up to thirty (30) days, |
or both; for a second conviction a person shall be subject to a fine of one hundred fifty dollars |
($150), or a license suspension for up to three (3) months, or both; and for a third or subsequent |
conviction a person shall be subject to a fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250), or a license |
suspension for up to six (6) months, or both. All violations arising out of this section shall be heard |
in the Rhode Island traffic tribunal. |
(e) If the offending operator elects to dispose of the charge without personally appearing |
before the traffic tribunal, then in accordance with the provisions of § 31-41.1-3, the operator shall |
execute the form indicated and return it to the traffic tribunal not later than twenty (20) days from |
the date of the summons, either by mailing or delivering the form and summons, to the violation |
section of the traffic tribunal, or to its designee, together with a check or money order in the amount |
indicated by the fine schedule on the form in addition to any technology surcharge applied by the |
traffic tribunal assessed in accordance with § 8-15-11. |
31-22-31. Mobile telephone usage by motor vehicle operators. |
(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings: |
(1) “Engage in a call” means talking into or listening on a hand-held personal wireless |
communication device, but does not include holding a hand-held personal wireless communication |
device to activate, deactivate, or initiate a function of such telephone. |
(2) “Hand-held personal wireless communication device” means a personal wireless |
communication device with which a user engages in a call using at least one hand. |
(3) “Hands-free accessory” means an attachment, add-on, built-in feature, or addition to a |
personal wireless communication device, whether or not permanently installed in a motor vehicle, |
that, when used, allows the vehicle operator to maintain both hands on the steering wheel. |
(4) “Hands-free personal wireless communication device” means a hand-held personal |
wireless communication device that has an internal feature or function, or that is equipped with an |
attachment or addition, whether or not permanently part of such hand-held personal wireless |
communication device, by which a user engages in a call without the use of either hand, whether |
or not the use of either hand is necessary to activate, deactivate, or initiate a function of such |
telephone. |
(5) “Immediate proximity” means the distance that permits the operator of a hand-held |
personal wireless communication device to hear telecommunications transmitted over such hand- |
held personal wireless communication device, but does not require physical contact with such |
operator’s ear. |
(6) “Mobile telephone” means a personal wireless communication device, analog, wireless, |
or digital telephone capable of sending or receiving telephone communication without an access |
line for service. |
(7) “Public utility” means a business that provides electricity, natural gas, water, and |
communications and other information services to residential and commercial customers. |
(8) “Using” or “use” means holding a hand-held personal wireless communication device |
to, or in the immediate proximity of, the user’s ear. |
(b)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person shall operate a motor vehicle |
while using a hand-held personal wireless communication device to engage in a call while such |
vehicle is in motion. |
(2) An operator of a motor vehicle who holds a hand-held personal wireless communication |
device to, or in the immediate proximity of, the operator’s ear while such vehicle is in motion is |
presumed to be engaging in a call within the meaning of this section. The presumption established |
by this subdivision is rebuttable by evidence tending to show that the operator was not engaged in |
a call. |
(3) The provisions of this section shall not be construed as authorizing the seizure or |
forfeiture of a hand-held personal wireless communication device, unless otherwise provided by |
law. |
(4) Subsection (b)(1) of this section shall not apply to: |
(i) The use of a hand-held personal wireless communication device for the sole purpose of |
communicating with any of the following regarding an emergency situation: an emergency |
response operator; a hospital, physician’s office or health clinic; an ambulance company; a fire |
department; a police department; or a public utility; or |
(ii) Any of the following persons while in the performance of their official duties and within |
the scope of their employment: a peace officer, as defined in § 12-7-21, a firefighter or an operator |
of an ambulance or authorized emergency vehicle, or the operator of a taxi cab, tow truck, or bus |
without passengers; or employees or agents of a public utility; or |
(iii) The use of a hands-free personal wireless communication device. |
(c) Any person who violates the provisions of subsection (b)(1) of this section shall be |
fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100); provided, however, until January 1, 2023, the fine |
shall be suspended for a first-time violator who provides proof of acquisition of a hands-free |
accessory subsequent to the violation, but prior to the imposition of a fine. |
(d) If the offending operator elects to dispose of the charge without personally appearing |
before the traffic tribunal, then in accordance with the provisions of § 31-41.1-3, the operator shall |
execute the form indicated and return it to the traffic tribunal not later than twenty (20) days from |
the date of the summons, either by mailing or delivering the form and summons, to the violation |
section of the traffic tribunal, or to its designee, together with a check or money order in the amount |
indicated by the fine schedule on the form in addition to any technology surcharge applied by the |
traffic tribunal assessed in accordance with § 8-15-11. |
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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LC001658/SUB A |
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