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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSES --

CASEY'S LAW

     Introduced By: Representatives Corvese, Noret, Azzinaro, Kennedy, Casey, J. Brien,
O'Brien, Craven, Solomon, and Phillips

     Date Introduced: April 01, 2026

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     (Governor)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 31-27 of the General Laws entitled "Motor Vehicle Offenses" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     31-27-26. Enhancement of an offense for road rage -- Casey's law.

     (a) For the purposes of this section, "road rage" means the operation or use of a motor

vehicle, or behavior on the part of the operator or passenger of a motor vehicle that is intentionally

aggressive, harassing, threatening, intimidating, or dangerous and that is directed toward another

motor vehicle operator or passenger upon any public highway, public roadway, or reasonable

extension of any public highway or roadway, to which the public has access.

     (b) Any person convicted of or entering a plea of guilty or nolo contendere for a violation

of any provisions of this chapter that constitute a misdemeanor or any other misdemeanor, and who

is further found to have committed such violation as a result of road rage may be subject to the

following in addition to any other penalty the court may impose for the underlying misdemeanor

violation:

     (1) A fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000); and/or

     (2) Suspension of the person's operator's license for up to one year.

     (c) Any person convicted of or entering a plea of guilty or nolo contendere for a violation

of any provisions of this chapter that constitute a felony or any other felony, and who is further

found to have committed such violation as a result of road rage may be subject to the following in

addition to any other penalty the court may impose for the underlying felony violation:

     (1) An additional term of imprisonment for not less than two (2) years and for not more

than fifteen (15) years;

     (2) A mandatory fine of no less than one thousand dollars ($1,000); and

     (3) Suspension of the person's operator's license for a period of not more than five (5) years

or revocation for a period up to two (2) years.

     (d) Whenever the attorney general or prosecutor seeks the enhanced sentence in this

section, the attorney general or prosecutor shall file a notice with the court and the defendant no

later than the first pretrial conference, or shall allege the enhancement in the complaint,

information, or indictment, specifying that the defendant, upon conviction, is subject to the

imposition of sentencing in accordance with this section.

     (e) Upon any plea of guilty or nolo contendere, or verdict or finding of guilty of the

defendant, the court shall conduct a sentencing hearing. At the hearing, the court shall permit the

attorney general or prosecutor and the defense to present additional evidence to the judge or jury

relevant to the determination of whether the defendant committed the underlying offense as a result

of road rage as defined in subsection (a) of this section. If the judge or jury at the hearing, or in the

case of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, the court at sentencing, determines beyond a reasonable

doubt that the defendant's actions were so motivated, the defendant shall be sentenced as provided

in this section.

     (f) This section does not create a separate offense but provides an additional enhanced

sentence for the underlying offense.

     (g) The enhanced sentence regarding imprisonment provided in this section shall run

consecutively to the sentences provided for the underlying offenses.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSES --

CASEY'S LAW

***

     This act would create an enhanced penalty defined as "road rage" to be applied in addition

to penalties for convictions of certain misdemeanor and felony offenses where the behavior on the

part of the operator or passenger includes certain intentionally aggressive, harassing, intimidating

or dangerous behavior.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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