2018 -- H 7955

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LC005198

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - HIGHWAYS

     Introduced By: Representatives Edwards, Shekarchi, Corvese, Newberry, and Tanzi

     Date Introduced: March 15, 2018

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 11-22-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-22 entitled "Highways"

is hereby amended to read as follows:

     11-22-2. Injuries to road signs -- Advertising on highway.

     A person who willfully or maliciously: (1) displaces, removes, injures, destroys, or places

a political advertisement on a mile board, mile stone, danger sign or signal, or guide sign or post,

or any inscription on it, lawfully within a public highway; or (2) in any manner paints, prints,

places, puts, or affixes, or causes to be painted, printed, placed, or affixed, any business,

commercial advertisement on or to any stone, tree, fence, stump, pole, building, or other object

which is the property of another, without first obtaining the written consent of the owner, or (3) in

any manner paints, prints, places, puts, or affixes, or causes to be painted, placed, or affixed, an

advertisement on or to any stone, tree, fence, stump, pole, mile board, mile stone, danger sign,

danger signal, guide sign, guide post, billboard, building, or other object within the limits of a

public highway, without first obtaining the written consent of the chief of police of the city or

town in which the highway is located; is punishable by a fine of may be fined not less than one

hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), or by imprisonment be

imprisoned for not more than ten (10) days, or both. In addition, the person shall be required to

pay any and all expenses incurred in the repair or replacement of the mile board, mile stone,

danger sign or signal, or guide sign or post. Any advertisement in or upon a public highway in

violation of the provisions of this section may be taken down, removed or destroyed by anyone.

Any and all costs incurred by the state of Rhode Island due to damages/loss under this section

shall be fully reimbursed by the party or parties causing the damage.

     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 CRIMINAL OFFENSES - HIGHWAYS

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     This act would repeal the criminal prohibition against painting, printing or affixing

advertisements to signs and billboards within limits of public highways without the written

consent of the chief of police of the city or town in which the highway is located.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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