2016 -- S 2787

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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 MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- STOPPING, STANDING, AND

PARKING RESTRICTIONS

     Introduced By: Senator Louis P. DiPalma

     Date Introduced: March 23, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 31-21-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-21 entitled "Stopping,

Standing, and Parking Restrictions" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-21-4. Places where parking or stopping prohibited. -- (a) No person shall stop,

stand, or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in

compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or traffic control device, in any of the

following places:

      (1) On a sidewalk;

      (2) In front of a public or private driveway;

      (3) Within an intersection;

      (4) Within eight feet (8') of a fire hydrant;

      (5) On a crosswalk;

      (6) Within twenty feet (20') of a crosswalk at an intersection;

      (7) Within thirty feet (30') upon the approach to any flashing beacon, stop sign, or traffic

control signal located at the side of a roadway;

      (8) Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb, or within thirty feet (30') of points on

the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone, unless the traffic authority indicates a

different length by signs or markings;

      (9) Within fifty feet (50') of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing;

      (10) Within twenty feet (20') of the driveway entrance to any fire station, and on the side

of a street opposite the entrance to any fire station within seventy-five feet (75') of the entrance

(when properly sign-posted);

      (11) Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when stopping, standing,

or parking would obstruct traffic;

      (12) On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street;

      (13) Upon any bridge or other elevated structure upon a highway or within a highway

tunnel;

      (14) At any place where official signs prohibit stopping;

      (15) At any curb cut or ramp for persons with disabilities; or

      (16) On any bicycle lane, trail or path.

      (17) Upon any crosshatched access aisle adjacent to disability parking spaces.

      (b) The following vehicles are exempt from the prohibitions contained in subsection (a):

      (1) School buses or worker transport buses that are loading or unloading children or

workers, provided that the school bus or worker transport bus operates its flashing bus safety

lights;

      (2) Subject to the provisions of § 31-21-6, vehicles that are momentarily stopped,

standing, or parked to admit or discharge passengers;

     (3) Taxicabs that are momentarily stopped, standing or parked to admit or discharge

passengers;

      (3)(4) Vehicles that are momentarily stopped, standing, or parked for the purpose of and

while actually engaged in loading or unloading property;

      (4)(5) Vehicles that are owned or operated by the state or a city or town when the vehicle

must stop, stand, or park to perform maintenance or repair work on an area where stopping,

standing or parking is prohibited under the provisions of subsection (a);

      (5)(6) Vehicles that are disabled in such a manner and to such extent that the vehicle

operator cannot avoid stopping or temporarily leaving the disabled vehicle in an area where

stopping, standing or parking is prohibited under the provisions of subsection (a);

      (6)(7) Vehicles that are momentarily stopped to allow oncoming traffic to pass before

making a right or left-hand turn, or in preparation for or while negotiating an exit from the road.

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

     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 -- STOPPING, STANDING, AND

PARKING RESTRICTIONS

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     This act would exempt taxicabs from the prohibitions regarding stopping and parking

enumerated in §31-21-4, when momentarily stopped to admit or discharge passengers.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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