2023 -- H 5387
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LC000826
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AN D OTHER VEHICLES -- LIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND
REFLECTORS
Introduced By: Representatives Baginski, Noret, Casimiro, and Fenton-Fung
Date Introduced: February 03, 2023
Referred To: House State Government & Elections
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 31-24-31 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-24 entitled "Lighting 1
Equipment and Reflectors" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
31-24-31. Flashing lights — Forward viewing or rotary beam lights. 3
(a) Flashing lights are prohibited, except on an authorized emergency vehicle, school bus, 4
snow-removal equipment, or on any vehicle as a means for indicating a right or left turn. However, 5
the requirements of § 31-24-33 shall be deemed to be satisfied if the vehicle is equipped with lamps 6
at the front mounted at the same level, displaying simultaneously flashing white or amber lights, 7
and at the rear mounted at the same level, and displaying simultaneously flashing red lights, all of 8
which lights shall be visible from a distance of not less than five hundred feet (500′). 9
(b) Forward viewing or rotating beam lights may be installed on and shall be restricted to 10
the following categories of vehicles, and these lights shall be of color designated: 11
(1) Emergency response vehicles of any fire, rescue, or ambulance department, fire chiefs, 12
assistant fire chiefs, deputy chiefs, captains; any privately owned vehicle of any authorized 13
volunteer member of a fire, rescue, or ambulance department; emergency management agency 14
directors, assistant directors, assistant medical examiners and/or forensic pathologists of the office 15
of state medical examiners; rescue vehicles, emergency response vehicles of the department of 16
environmental management and the office of the state fire marshal; school buses; hospital 17
emergency response vehicles; and two (2) American Red Cross disaster vehicles: Red, white and/or 18
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alternating flashing white; 1
(2) Wrecker trucks, service station trucks, state and town safety and maintenance vehicles; 2
snowplows and tractors; light company trucks, telephone company trucks, water company trucks, 3
oil company trucks, and other utilities’ trucks; vehicles of television, radio and press photographers; 4
newspaper motor route carriers; rural mail carriers; all motor-propelled vehicles owned by the 5
Northern Rhode Island REACT (radio emergency associated citizens team); all motor-propelled 6
vehicles owned by or under contract to the Rhode Island department of transportation when on 7
official state business; vehicle of election officials designated by the board of canvassers as 8
primarily responsible for the supervision of polling locations; and vehicles marking the beginning 9
and end of funeral processions: Amber, provided, however, that wrecker and transportation vehicles 10
operated pursuant to a public utilities commission license, and roadside assistance vehicles of any 11
type operated for that purpose by the American Automobile Association shall be permitted to use 12
flashing amber lights at the front and rear of the vehicle, to be activated only in the course of 13
providing assistance to or transportation for a disabled vehicle. A fee of twenty-five dollars ($25) 14
shall be charged for the issuance of a flashing lights permit to every vehicle identified in this 15
subsection, with the exception of flashing lights permits issued to state, town or fire district safety 16
and maintenance vehicles, which shall not be charged a fee. 17
(3) Police units, state and local: Center rotating beam lights: Blue or red; Outboard mounted 18
lights: Blue or red. 19
(4) Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4. 20
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 21
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AN D OTHER VEHICLES -- LIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND
REFLECTORS
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This act would authorize designated state and local election officials with supervisory 1
responsibility over polling locations the use of amber flashing safety lights on their vehicles. 2
This act would take effect upon passage. 3
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