2017 -- H 5212 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - PASSING, USE OF LANES, AND

RULES OF THE ROAD

     Introduced By: Representatives Lima, Keable, Casey, Fellela, and Costantino

     Date Introduced: January 26, 2017

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 31-15-12.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-15 entitled "Passing,

Use of Lanes, and Rules of the Road" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-15-12.2. Don't Block the Box.

     (a) No operator of a motor vehicle shall proceed into an intersection that has been

designated, posted, and marked by a municipality in accordance with subsection (b), except when

making a turn, unless there is sufficient space on the opposite side of the intersection to

accommodate such motor vehicle without obstructing the passage of other vehicles or

pedestrians, notwithstanding the indication of a traffic control signal that would permit such

operator to proceed into the intersection.

     (b) Any municipality may, by ordinance, designate one or more intersections within that

municipality as "Don't Block the Box" intersections, to which the provisions of subsection (a)

shall apply. The municipality shall:

     (1) Post "Don't Block the Box" signs, as designed by the state traffic commission so as to

have conformity in all municipalities, at each such designated intersection indicating that

blocking the intersection is prohibited and violators are subject to a fine; and

     (2) Mark, in white paint, the boundary of such intersection with a line not less than one-

foot in width and the area within such boundary line with parallel diagonal lines not less than

one-foot in width as designated and determined by the state traffic commission.

     (c) Prior to January 1, 2017 June 1, 2017, any motorist who violates this subsection shall

be issued a verbal warning only; this verbal warning shall only apply to "Don't Block the Box"

intersections as established by subsection (b).

     (d) Effective January 1, 2017 June 1, 2017, any motorist who commits a first violation of

this section shall be fined one hundred dollars ($100); a second violation of this section shall be

fined two hundred fifty dollars ($250); and for a third and subsequent violation of this section,

five hundred dollars ($500).

     (e) Any city or town that determines that it has a traffic and safety problem in its

community due to violations of this section on state intersections located within its municipality

may petition the state traffic commission, created by § 31-13-1, for permission to paint "Don't

Block the Box" lines in accordance with subsection (b).

     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 - PASSING, USE OF LANES, AND

RULES OF THE ROAD

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     This act would extend the warning period from January 1, 2017 to June 1, 2017 and

delays until June 1, 2017 the "Don't Block the Box" enforcement period. It would also mark, in

white paint, the boundary of such intersection as designated and determined by the state traffic

commission.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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