Rhode Island 2023 Regular Session

Rhode Island Senate Bill S0384 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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5	5	2023 -- S 0384
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7	7	LC001255
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9	9	S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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14	14	A N A C T
15	15	RELATING TO MOTOR AN D OTHER VEHICLES -- LIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND
16	16	REFLECTORS
17	17	Introduced By: Senators F. Lombardi, DiMario, Lawson, Britto, Ciccone, DiPalma, and
18	18	Gallo
19	19	Date Introduced: February 16, 2023
20	20	Referred To: Senate Judiciary
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23	23	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
24	24	SECTION 1. Section 31-24-31 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-24 entitled "Lighting 1
25	25	Equipment and Reflectors" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
26	26	31-24-31. Flashing lights — Forward viewing or rotary beam lights. 3
27	27	(a) Flashing lights are prohibited, except on an authorized emergency vehicle, school bus, 4
28	28	snow-removal equipment, or on any vehicle as a means for indicating a right or left turn. However, 5
29	29	the requirements of § 31-24-33 shall be deemed to be satisfied if the vehicle is equipped with lamps 6
30	30	at the front mounted at the same level, displaying simultaneously flashing white or amber lights, 7
31	31	and at the rear mounted at the same level, and displaying simultaneously flashing red lights, all of 8
32	32	which lights shall be visible from a distance of not less than five hundred feet (500′). 9
33	33	(b) Forward viewing or rotating beam lights may be installed on and shall be restricted to 10
34	34	the following categories of vehicles, and these lights shall be of color designated: 11
35	35	(1) Emergency response vehicles of any fire, rescue, or ambulance department, fire chiefs, 12
36	36	assistant fire chiefs, deputy chiefs, captains; any privately owned vehicle of any authorized 13
37	37	volunteer member of a fire, rescue, or ambulance department; emergency management agency 14
38	38	directors, assistant directors, assistant medical examiners and/or forensic pathologists of the office 15
39	39	of state medical examiners; rescue vehicles, emergency response vehicles of the department of 16
40	40	environmental management and the office of the state fire marshal; school buses; hospital 17
41	41	emergency response vehicles; and two (2) American Red Cross disaster vehicles: Red, white and/or 18
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44	44	LC001255 - Page 2 of 3
45	45	alternating flashing white; 1
46	46	(2) Wrecker trucks, service station trucks, state and town safety and maintenance vehicles; 2
47	47	snowplows and tractors; light company trucks, telephone company trucks, water company trucks, 3
48	48	oil company trucks, and other utilities’ trucks; vehicles of television, radio and press photographers; 4
49	49	newspaper motor route carriers; rural mail carriers; all motor-propelled vehicles owned by the 5
50	50	Northern Rhode Island REACT (radio emergency associated citizens team); all motor-propelled 6
51	51	vehicles owned by or under contract to the Rhode Island department of transportation when on 7
52	52	official state business; vehicle of election officials designated by the board of canvassers as 8
53	53	primarily responsible for the supervision of polling locations; and vehicles marking the beginning 9
54	54	and end of funeral processions: Amber, provided, however, that wrecker and transportation vehicles 10
55	55	operated pursuant to a public utilities commission license, and roadside assistance vehicles of any 11
56	56	type operated for that purpose by the American Automobile Association shall be permitted to use 12
57	57	flashing amber lights at the front and rear of the vehicle, to be activated only in the course of 13
58	58	providing assistance to or transportation for a disabled vehicle. A fee of twenty-five dollars ($25) 14
59	59	shall be charged for the issuance of a flashing lights permit to every vehicle identified in this 15
60	60	subsection, with the exception of flashing lights permits issued to state, town or fire district safety 16
61	61	and maintenance vehicles, which shall not be charged a fee. 17
62	62	(3) Police units, state and local: Center rotating beam lights: Blue or red; Outboard mounted 18
63	63	lights: Blue or red. 19
64	64	(4) Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4. 20
65	65	SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 21
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72	72	EXPLANATION
73	73	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
74	74	OF
75	75	A N A C T
76	76	RELATING TO MOTOR AN D OTHER VEHICLES -- LIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND
77	77	REFLECTORS
78	78	***
79	79	This act would authorize designated state and local election officials with supervisory 1
80	80	responsibility over polling locations the use of amber flashing safety lights on their vehicles. 2
81	81	This act would take effect upon passage. 3
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