2016 -- S 2596

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LC003637

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES

     Introduced By: Senators Goodwin, Gallo, Lynch Prata, Crowley, and Sosnowski

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 69

ELECTRONIC TRACKING OF MOTOR VEHICLES

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

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

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

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

occupant or occupants of the vehicle.

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

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

purposes of this section, an assignee of the dealer;

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

that rent motor vehicles; and

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

the starter of a motor vehicle.

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

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

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

applicable state and federal law.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

occupant.

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

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

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

recovery device.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

purposes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

      (1) Simple assault (§ 11-5-3);

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

      (3) Vandalism (§ 11-44-1);

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

      (5) Trespass (§ 11-44-26);

      (6) Kidnapping (§ 11-26-1);

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

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

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

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

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

and the penalty for its violation or a violation of a no contact order issued pursuant to § 12-29-4;

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

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

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

      (14) Arson (§ 11-4-2 et seq.);

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

by the court's consideration of the following factors:

      (1) the length of time of the relationship;

      (2) the type of the relationship;

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

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

or chapter 8.1 of title 8.

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

violence.

     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

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

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

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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