2012 -- H 7230

=======

LC00824

=======

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

____________

A N A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - SNOW PLOWS AND SNOW

REMOVAL EQUIPMENT

     Introduced By: Representatives Phillips, Brien, Tomasso, Johnston, and Bennett

     Date Introduced: January 25, 2012

     Referred To: House Corporations

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1-1

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

1-2

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

1-3

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

1-4

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

1-5

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

1-6

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

1-7

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

1-8

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

1-9

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

1-10

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

1-11

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

1-12

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

1-13

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

1-14

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

1-15

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

1-16

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

1-17

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

1-18

hospital emergency response vehicles; and two (2) American Red Cross disaster vehicles: Red,

1-19

white and/or alternating flashing white;

2-1

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

2-2

vehicles; snowplows, snow removal equipment and tractors; light company trucks, telephone

2-3

company trucks, water company trucks, oil company trucks, and other utilities' trucks; vehicles of

2-4

television, radio and press photographers; rural mail carriers; all motor-propelled vehicles owned

2-5

by the Northern Rhode Island REACT (radio emergency associated citizens team); all motor-

2-6

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

2-7

when on official state business; and vehicles marking the beginning and end of funeral

2-8

processions: Amber, provided, however, that wrecker and transportation vehicles operated

2-9

pursuant to a public utilities commission license, and roadside assistance vehicles of any type

2-10

operated for that purpose by the American Automobile Association shall be permitted to use

2-11

flashing amber lights at the front and rear of the vehicle, to be activated only in the course of

2-12

providing assistance to or transportation for a disabled vehicle. A fee of twenty-five dollars ($25)

2-13

shall be charged for the issuance of a flashing lights permit to every vehicle identified in this

2-14

subsection, with the exception of flashing lights permits issued to state, town or fire district safety

2-15

and maintenance vehicles, which shall not be charged a fee.

2-16

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

2-17

mounted lights: Blue or red.

2-18

     (4) The use of the flashing lights authorized for snow plows and snow removal equipment

2-19

by subdivision (b)(2) hereof shall be mandatory, provided that vehicles having other uses besides

2-20

snow removal shall be required to display such flashing lights, which may be magnetically

2-21

mounted, only when engaged in snow removal, and provided further, that this requirement shall

2-22

not apply to snowblowers.

2-23

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

2-24

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

=======

LC00824

========

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - SNOW PLOWS AND SNOW

REMOVAL EQUIPMENT

***

3-1

     This act would require that use of flashing lights on snow plows and snow removal

3-2

equipment.

3-3

     This act would take effect upon passage.

=======

LC00824

=======