2024 -- S 2770 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS -- STATE AND

MUNICIPAL COURT COMPACT

     Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, and Bissaillon

     Date Introduced: March 08, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 8-18-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 8-18 entitled "State and

Municipal Court Compact" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     8-18-3. Jurisdiction for certain violations.

     (a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, jurisdiction over the adjudication of matters

relating to violations enumerated in the following sections of the general laws is hereby conferred

upon the municipal courts and the traffic tribunal:

31-13-4 31-13-9 31-13-11 31-14-3 31-14-9 31-15-1 31-15-3

31-15-4 31-15-5 31-15-6 31-15-7 31-15-9 31-15-11 31-15-12

31-15-13 31-16-1 31-16-2 31-16-4 31-16-5 31-16-7 31-16-9

31-17-1 31-17-2 31-17-4 31-17-6 31-17-7 31-18-12 31-20-1

31-20-2 31-20-9 31-21-4 31-22-2 31-22-4 31-22-5 31-22-6

31-22-7 31-22-8 31-22-9 31-23-1 31-23-8 31-23-13 31-23-14

31-23-15 31-24-1 31-24-4 31-24-5 31-24-7 31-24-12 31-38-4

31-12-12 37-15-7 31-3-29 31-3-30 31-3-34 31-3-35 31-8-1

31-10-32 31-10.1-1 31-10.1-4 31-10.1-5 31-10.1-6 31-13-6 31-15-8

31-23-45 31-14-1 31-17-3 31-23-4 31-23-10 31-23-17 31-23-19

31-23-20 31-23-26 31-23-27 31-23-40 31-23-42.1 31-3-18 31-10-27

31-18-3 31-10.1-7 31-38-3 31-14-12 31-17-5 31-25-9 31-25-11

31-25-12 31-25-12.1 31-25-10 31-22-1 31-24-34 31-27-9 31-3-9

31-15-10 31-18-8 31-25-17 31-10.1-4 31-23-43 31-23-29 31-24-45

31-17-8 31-24-10 31-23-47 31-12-9 31-15-16 24-10-18 31-19-5

31-3-12 31-24-9 31-22-22 31-28-7 31-28-7.1 31-3-32 31-18-4

24-10-18 31-18-5 31-18-15 31-18-18 31-21-14 31-22-3 31-23-16

31-24-6 31-24-8 31-24-31 31-27-16 31-22-23 31-10-30 31-10-10

31-19-3 31-3-40 31-22-24 31-23-51 31-7-1 31-15-2 31-15-12.1

31-16-8 31-20-17 31-24-16 31-24-17 31-24-20 31-24-22 31-24-23

31-24-24 31-24-25 31-24-26 31-24-27 31-24-28 31-24-29 31-24-30

31-24-32 31-24-33 31-24-36 31-24-38 31-24-39 31-24-40 31-24-41

31-24-42 31-24-43 31-24-46 31-24-49 31-24-51 31-24-53 31-26-3.1

31-27-17 31-27-19 31-33-2 31-45-1 4-1-26 31-10.1-2 31-20-10

31-22-13 31-24-13 31-27-10 31-41.1-4 31.41.2-3

(Speeding

(A)).

     (b) Except as provided in §§ 8-18-9, 8-18-10, and 31-41.1-11 jurisdiction over violations

enumerated in subsection (a) shall be exercised as follows:

     (1) By the traffic tribunal over all violations for which the summons is issued by a state

agency;

     (2) By the traffic tribunal over all violations for which the summons is issued by a city or

town which has not established a municipal court; and

     (3) By the municipal court over all violations for which the summons is issued by a city or

town which has established a municipal court.

     SECTION 2. Section 31-41.2-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-41.2 entitled

"Automated Traffic Violation Monitoring Systems" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-41.2-3. Automated traffic violation monitoring systems.

     (a) The state department of transportation and the municipalities of this state are hereby

authorized to install and operate automated traffic violation detection systems. Such systems shall

be limited to systems which monitor and detect violations of traffic control signals. For purposes

of this chapter an automated traffic violation detection system means a system with one or more

motor vehicle sensors which produces images of motor vehicles being operated in violation of

traffic signal laws. A municipality shall be permitted to install, at up to no more than three (3)

designated "Don't Block the Box" intersections within the municipality, an automated traffic

detection system to monitor violations of § 31-15-12.2; provided, however, that the provisions

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allowing such "Don't Block the Box" monitoring shall sunset on January 15, 2027, at which time

such use as provided in this section shall no longer be permitted.

     (b) No automated traffic violation detection system shall be installed pursuant to this

section which has not been approved for use by the director of the state department of

transportation. The director of the state department of transportation shall promulgate regulations

for the approval and operation of said systems pursuant to the administrative procedures act, chapter

35 of title 42. Systems shall be approved if the director is satisfied they meet standards of efficiency

and accuracy. All systems installed for use under this chapter must be able to record the image of

the vehicle and the license plates of the vehicle.

     (c) In the event that the system is to be installed other than by the state department of

transportation on state-maintained streets or roads, the director of the department of transportation

must approve such installation.

     (d) The state department of transportation and/or the municipalities may enter into an

agreement with a private corporation or other entity to provide automated traffic violation detection

systems or equipment and to maintain such systems.

     (e) Compensation to a private entity that provides traffic signal monitoring devices shall

be based on the value of such equipment and related support services, and shall not be based on the

revenue generated by such systems.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage and the provisions of this act shall

sunset on January 15, 2027.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS -- STATE AND

MUNICIPAL COURT COMPACT

***

     This act would authorize the "Don't Block the Box" traffic signal laws and would include

violations of § 31-15-12.2 at up to three designated intersections per municipality and would sunset

on January 15, 2027.

     This act would take effect upon passage and the provisions of this act would sunset on

January 15, 2027.

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