2015 -- S 0246

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LC000889

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- PASSING, USE OF LANES, AND

RULES OF THE ROAD

     Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Sheehan, Nesselbush, Crowley, and Goldin

     Date Introduced: February 11, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 31-15 of the General Laws entitled "Passing, Use of Lanes, and

Rules of the Road" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     31-15-20. Unsafe passing of a vulnerable road user. -- (a) For purposes of this section,

"vulnerable road user" means:

     (1) A pedestrian;

     (2) A bicyclist;

     (3) A police officer or emergency responder on duty while outside of a vehicle;

     (4) A highway worker performing duties outside a vehicle;

     (5) A person riding on or driving a wheelchair, motorized or not;

     (6) A person using a skateboard, inline skates, or rollerskates;

     (7) A person riding on or driving an animal.

     (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of the general or public laws to the contrary, any

person, while operating a motor vehicle on a street or highway, who fails to exercise due care to

avoid colliding with a vulnerable road user causing physical injury or death to the vulnerable road

user shall be guilty of an offense pursuant to this section and shall be sentenced in addition to any

other applicable criminal or civil statute as follows:

     (1) To complete a traffic safety training session to be determined by the sentencing judge;

     (2) To perform no less than ten (10) and not more than two hundred (200) hours of

community service;

     (3) A suspension of his or her motor vehicle operator's license for a period of not more

than one year; and

     (4) A fine of not less than eight-five dollars ($85.00) and not more than five hundred

dollars ($500).

     Said fines and/or penalties are in addition to any other applicable criminal or civil

penalties, provided by the general laws.

     (d) Any person required to perform community service or traffic safety training pursuant

to this section shall complete such training session and perform such community service within

one year of the date of sentencing. If the court determines that such person has not successfully

completed the training session and performed the community service, the court shall grant the

person an extension for good cause shown, or impose an additional fine of not more than five

hundred dollars ($500) and suspend such person's motor vehicle operator's license for a period of

not more than one year.

     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 -- PASSING, USE OF LANES, AND

RULES OF THE ROAD

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     This act would provide a penalty for failing to exercise due care to avoid colliding with a

vulnerable road user.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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