2003 -- S 0987

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LC02856

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2003

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A N A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- LIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND

REFLECTORS

     Introduced By: Senators Damiani, and DaPonte

     Date Introduced: April 01, 2003

     Referred To: Senate Commerce, Housing & Municipal Government

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 31-24-31 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-24 entitled "Lighting

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Equipment and Reflectors" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     31-24-31. Flashing lights -- Forward viewing or rotary beam lights. -- (a) Flashing

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lights are prohibited, except on an authorized emergency vehicle, school bus, snow removal

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equipment, or on any vehicle as a means for indicating a right or left turn. However, the

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requirements of section 31-24-33 shall be deemed to be satisfied if the vehicle is equipped with

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lamps at the front mounted at the same level, displaying simultaneously flashing white or amber

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lights, and at the rear mounted at the same level, and displaying simultaneously flashing red

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lights, all of which lights shall be visible from a distance of not less than five hundred feet (500').

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      (b) Forward viewing or rotating beam lights may be installed on and shall be restricted to

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the following categories of emergency vehicles, and these lights shall be of color designated:

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      (1) Emergency response vehicles of any fire, rescue, or ambulance department, fire

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chiefs, assistant fire chiefs, deputy chiefs, captains; any privately owned vehicle of any authorized

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volunteer member of a fire, rescue, or ambulance department; emergency management agency

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directors, assistant directors, assistant medical examiners and/or forensic pathologists of the

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office of state medical examiners; rescue vehicles, emergency response vehicles of the

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department of environmental management and the division of state fire marshal; school buses;

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funeral service vehicles; and two (2) American Red Cross disaster vehicles: Red, white and/or

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alternating flashing white;

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      (2) Wrecker trucks, service station trucks, state and town safety and maintenance

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vehicles; snowplows and tractors; light company trucks, telephone company trucks, water

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company trucks, oil company trucks, and other utilities' trucks; vehicles of television, radio and

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press photographers; rural mail carriers; all motor-propelled vehicles owned by the Northern

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Rhode Island REACT (radio emergency associated citizens team); and all motor-propelled

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vehicles owned by or under contract to the Rhode Island department of transportation when on

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official state business: Amber;

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      (3) Police units, state and local: Center rotating beam lights: Blue or red; Outboard

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mounted lights: Blue or red.

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      (4) Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in section 31-41.1-4.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC02856

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- LIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND

REFLECTORS

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     This act would add funeral service vehicles to the list of vehicles authorized to use rotary

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beam lights.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC02856

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