2015 -- S 0972

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LC002287

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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

     

     Introduced By: Senator Maryellen Goodwin

     Date Introduced: June 04, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 11 of the General Laws entitled "CRIMINAL OFFENSES" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 69

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ELECTRONIC TRACKING OF MOTOR VEHICLES

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     11-69-1. Electronic Tracking of Motor Vehicles. – (a)(1) Except as provided in

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subsection (b) of this section, it is an offense for a person to knowingly install, conceal or

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otherwise place an electronic tracking device in or on a motor vehicle without the consent of the

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operator and all occupants of the vehicle for the purpose of monitoring or following the operator,

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occupant or occupants of the vehicle.

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     (2) Definitions. - As used in this section:

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     (i) The term "dealer" has the same meaning as set forth in § 31-5-5 and includes, for

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purposes of this section, an assignee of the dealer;

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     (ii) The term "person" does not include the manufacturer of the motor vehicle or entities

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that rent motor vehicles; and

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     (iii) The term "starter interrupt technology" means technology used to remotely disable

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the starter of a motor vehicle.

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     (b)(1) It shall not be a violation if the installation, concealment, or placement of an

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electronic tracking device in or on a motor vehicle is by, or at the direction of a law enforcement

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officer in furtherance of a criminal investigation and is carried out in accordance with the

 

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applicable state and federal law.

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     (2) If the installation, concealment, or placement of an electronic tracking device in or on

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a motor vehicle is by, or at the direction of a parent or legal guardian who owns or leases the

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vehicle, and if the device is used solely for the purpose of monitoring the minor child of the

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parent or legal guardian when the child is an occupant of the vehicle, then the installation,

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concealment or placement of the device in or on the vehicle without the consent of any or all

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occupants in the vehicle shall not be a violation, unless the person utilizing the tracking device

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has an active restraining order or no contact order against them for the protection of any vehicle

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occupant.

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     (3) It shall not be a violation of this section if an electronic tracking device is attached to

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stolen goods for the purpose of tracking the location of the stolen goods, whether or not they may

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be transported in a vehicle, or if installed, concealed, or placed in or on a vehicle as a vehicle theft

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recovery device.

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     (4) It shall not be a violation of this section if an electronic tracking device, including, but

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not limited to, devices also containing technology used to remotely disable the starter of a motor

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vehicle, is installed by a motor vehicle dealer in connection with the credit sale, loan, or lease of a

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motor vehicle with the express written consent of the vehicle's purchaser, lessor, or lessee.

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     (5) It shall not be a violation of this section if an electronic tracking device is used by a

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business that is authorized to transact business in this state and the tracking device is used by the

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business for the purpose of tracking vehicles that are owned or leased by the business and driven

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by employees of that business, its affiliates, or contractors of that business or its affiliates.

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     (c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a tracking system installed by the

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manufacturer of a motor vehicle, or installed by an entity renting out vehicles, or by an insurance

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company with the vehicle owner's permission to monitor driving habits for insurance rating

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purposes.

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     (d) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison, or

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up to a one thousand dollar ($1000) fine, or both.

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     SECTION 2. Section 12-29-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-29 entitled "Domestic

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Violence Prevention Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     12-29-2. Definitions. -- (a) "Domestic violence" includes, but is not limited to, any of the

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following crimes when committed by one family or household member against another:

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      (1) Simple assault (section 11-5-3);

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      (2) Felony assaults (sections 11-5-1, 11-5-2, and 11-5-4);

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      (3) Vandalism (section 11-44-1);

 

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      (4) Disorderly conduct (section 11-45-1);

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      (5) Trespass (section 11-44-26);

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      (6) Kidnapping (section 11-26-1);

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      (7) Child-snatching (section 11-26-1.1);

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      (8) Sexual assault (sections 11-37-2, 11-37-4);

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      (9) Homicide (sections 11-23-1 and 11-23-3);

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      (10) Violation of the provisions of a protective order entered pursuant to section 15-5-19,

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chapter 15 of title 15, or chapter 8.1 of title 8 where the respondent has knowledge of the order

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and the penalty for its violation or a violation of a no contact order issued pursuant to section 12-

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29-4;

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      (11) Stalking (sections 11-59-1 et seq.);

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      (12) Refusal to relinquish or to damage or to obstruct a telephone (section 11-35-14);

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      (13) Burglary and Unlawful Entry (section 11-8-1 et seq.);

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      (14) Arson (section 11-4-2 et seq.);

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      (15) Cyberstalking and cyberharassment (section 11-52-4.2); and

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      (16) Domestic assault by strangulation section 11-5-2.3.; and

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      (17) Electronic tracking of motor vehicles (§ 11-69-1).

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      (b) "Family or household member" means spouses, former spouses, adult persons related

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by blood or marriage, adult persons who are presently residing together or who have resided

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together in the past three (3) years, and persons who have a child in common regardless of

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whether they have been married or have lived together, or if persons who are or have been in a

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substantive dating or engagement relationship within the past one year which shall be determined

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by the court's consideration of the following factors:

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      (1) the length of time of the relationship;

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      (2) the type of the relationship;

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      (3) the frequence frequency of the interaction between the parties.

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      (c) "Protective order" means an order issued pursuant to section 15-5-19, chapter 15 of

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title 15, or chapter 8.1 of title 8.

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      (d) "Victim" means a family or household member who has been subjected to domestic

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violence.

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     SECTION 3. 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

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     This act would restrict the installation, concealment or placement of an electronic

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tracking device in or on a motor vehicle, and would add electronic tracking devices to the

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definition of "domestic violence" under the "Domestic Violence Protection Act".

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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