2016 -- H 7207

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LC003690

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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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - SURVEILLANCE DEVICES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Edwards, Diaz, Tanzi, Ajello, and Shekarchi

     Date Introduced: January 15, 2016

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND

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GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 153.1

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HIGHWAY VIDEO SURVEILLANCE

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     42-153.1-1. Highway Surveillance Prohibited. -- (a) In this section, "surveillance''

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means the act of determining the ownership of a motor vehicle or the identity of a motor vehicle's

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occupants on the public ways of the state or its political subdivisions through the use of a camera

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or other imaging device, or any other device, including, but not limited to, a transponder, cellular

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telephone, global positioning satellite, EZ-Pass, automated license plate recognition systems or

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radio frequency identification device, that by itself or in conjunction with other devices or

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information can be used to determine the ownership of a motor vehicle, the identity of a motor

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vehicle's occupants or the mileage, locations and routes traveled by the motor vehicle.

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     (b) Neither the state of Rhode Island, nor its political subdivisions, shall engage in

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surveillance on any public ways of the state or its political subdivisions.

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     (c) The prohibition set forth in §42-153.1-1(b) shall not apply where surveillance:

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(1) Is specifically authorized by statute; 

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     (2) Is undertaken by law enforcement in the investigation of a particular violation,

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misdemeanor, or felony or by court order;

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     (3) Is undertaken to produce images or data that:

 

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     (i) Are viewed only at the transportation management center of the department of

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transportation in connection with a particular incident occurring on a public way; and

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     (ii) Are not recorded.

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     (4) Is incidental to the monitoring of a building or other structure under the control of the

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state or a political subdivision of the state;

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     (5) Is undertaken for purposes of operation of a toll collection system; or

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     (6) Is undertaken for the security of the following bridges and approach structures: the

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Claiborne Pell Bridge, the Mount Hope Bridge, the Sakonnet River Bridge, or the Jamestown

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Verrazzano Bridge.

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     (d) Nothing in this section shall prevent the creation, transmission, or recording of any

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images or data which cannot, by enhancement, manipulation, or otherwise, be used for

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surveillance.

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     (e) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

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     42-153.1-2. Confidentiality of information.-- Any information collected or stored in

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any database under the provisions of §§42-153.1-1(c)(4) through (6) shall be deemed private and

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shall not be subject to freedom of information or access to public records requirements except by

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court order. Said information may be accessed by employees of the state for the purpose of

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providing customer service or for statistical, administrative or legal activities necessary to

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perform their duties. Information shall be maintained only for said time as is necessary, but in no

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event more than five (5) years, unless otherwise required by court order.

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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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - SURVEILLANCE DEVICES

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     This act would prohibit surveillance on any public highway in the state unless

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specifically authorized by statute or court order. This act would also provide for the

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confidentiality of information collected or stored.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC003690

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