2018 -- S 2688

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LC005237

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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 MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - AUTOMATED SCHOOL-ZONE-

SPEED-ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM

     

     Introduced By: Senators Quezada, Goodwin, Jabour, Ciccone, and Metts

     Date Introduced: March 20, 2018

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 31-41.3-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-41.3 entitled

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"Automated School-Zone-Speed-Enforcement System Act of 2016" is hereby amended to read as

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follows:

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     31-41.3-4. Automated school-zone-speed-enforcement system operational

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requirements and certification.

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     No automated school-zone-speed-enforcement system shall be used in the state of Rhode

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Island unless the system has been approved and certified for use in the state by the director of the

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department of transportation. The director of the department of transportation, in cooperation with

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the state police, shall require that any automated school-zone-speed-enforcement system

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approved and certified for use in the state of Rhode Island meets the following requirements:

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     (1) All automated school-zone-speed-enforcement systems operated under this chapter

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shall record the speed of vehicles within plus or minus one mile per hour of the actual speed.

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     (2) All automated school-zone-speed-enforcement systems operated under this chapter

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shall record at least two (2) photographic images of the vehicle exceeding the speed limit, one of

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which shall include the license plate attached to the rear of the vehicle.

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     (3) All automated school-zone-speed-enforcement systems operated under this chapter

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shall, at the time of violation, imprint upon the photographic images of vehicles exceeding the

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speed limit:

 

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     (i) The date and time of the violation; and

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     (ii) The identity of the street, or school zone being monitored, and location upon that

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street, or within that school zone, including the direction of travel and lane of travel; this

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requirement may be met with code designations; and

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     (iii) The posted or lawfully designated speed limit for the street or school zone being

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monitored; and

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     (iv) The monitored speed of the vehicle identified in the photographic images as

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exceeding the posted or lawfully designated school zone speed limit; and

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     (v) The consecutive event number of each photograph taken.

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     (4) At least one hundred feet (100') prior to entering an automated school-zone area

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where a speed-enforcement system is being operated, signs shall be erected that are yellow in

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color, flashing the school zone speed, warning motorists that they will be entering an area

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monitored by an automated speed-zone-enforcement system and that violators of speed

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limitations may be prosecuted.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 31-41.3 of the General Laws entitled "Automated School-Zone-

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Speed-Enforcement System Act of 2016" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following

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section:

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     31-41.3-15. Penalties.

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     (a) All first offense prosecutions based on evidence produced by an automated school-

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zone-speed-enforcement system shall result in a written warning citation.

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     (b) All second offense prosecutions based on evidence produced by an automated school-

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zone-speed-enforcement system shall result in a fine not to exceed forty-five dollars ($45).

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     (c) All subsequent prosecutions based on evidence produced by an automated school-

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zone-speed-enforcement system shall follow the procedures established in chapter 41.1 of this

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title.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC005237

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - AUTOMATED SCHOOL-ZONE-

SPEED-ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM

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     This act would require the use of yellow, flashing school zone speed signs and require

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written warning citations for first offenses, a fine up to forty-five dollars ($45) for second

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offenses and referral to the traffic tribunal for all subsequent offenses.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC005237

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