2015 -- S 0803

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LC000767

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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 CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WILLFUL TRESPASS

     

     Introduced By: Senators Metts, and McCaffrey

     Date Introduced: April 07, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 11-44-26 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-44 entitled "Trespass

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and Vandalism" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     11-44-26. Willful trespass -- Remaining on land after warning -- Exemption for

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tenants holding over. -- (a) Every person who willfully trespasses or, having no legitimate

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purpose for his or her presence, remains upon the land of another or upon the premises or

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curtilage of the domicile of any person legally entitled to the possession of that domicile, after

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having been forbidden to do so by the owner of the land or the owner's duly authorized agent or a

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person legally entitled to the possession of the premises, shall for a first or second conviction be

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punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) and for a third or subsequent

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conviction by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or imprisonment for a term not

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exceeding one year, or both.

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      (b) This section shall not apply to tenants or occupants of residential premises who,

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having rightfully entered the premises at the commencement of the tenancy or occupancy, remain

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after that tenancy or occupancy has been or is alleged to have been terminated. The owner or

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landlord of the premises may recover possession only through appropriate civil proceedings.

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      (c) Where the provisions of The Domestic Violence Prevention Act, chapter 29 of title

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12, are applicable, the penalties for violation of this section shall also include the penalties as

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provided in ยง 12-29-5.

 

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     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 CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WILLFUL TRESPASS

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     This act would amend the penalty provision for the crime of willful trespass and would

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provide for a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) for a first or second conviction and

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by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) for a third or subsequent conviction.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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