WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 2296

AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- DISORDERLY CONDUCT

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Pete Appollonio and 9 co-sponsors

The bill creates a new offense unlawful interference with traffic on highways, with escalating felony penalties and mandatory minimums for each offense and a severe range if an eme

05/12/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 2296

Overview

  • Bill: SB 2296 (Rhode Island, 2026)
  • Purpose: Establish new criminal offenses and penalties related to unlawful interference with traffic on state and federal highways, expanding disorderly conduct statutes with mandatory minimum sentencing for traffic-related violations.
  • Status: Introduced January 23, 2026; referred to Senate Judiciary. Hearing scheduled for May 12, 2026.

Main purpose and intent

  • Create a narrowly defined crime of unlawful interference with traffic on highways, with escalating penalties based on the number of offenses and the severity of outcomes.
  • Add robust penalties for conduct that directly disrupts or delays traffic, especially when tied to interference with emergency vehicles or resulting in death.

Key provisions and changes

Disorderly conduct (amendment to 11-45-1)

  • Reiterates existing disorderly conduct criteria and clarifies several prohibited behaviors, including:
    • Engaging in fighting, violent or tumultuous behavior.
    • Disturbing others by loud/unreasonable noise in public or near private residences.
    • Directing offensive words in public likely to provoke violence.
    • Obstructing a highway, street, sidewalk, building entrance, or other public passage.
    • Interfering with a lawful meeting, procession, or gathering.
    • Entering another’s property to look into a dwelling with lascivious intent through a window.
    • Looking into private areas (windows/openings) for lascivious purposes without consent.
  • Complainant provisions allow any person, including a police officer, to institute action.
  • Penalty: imprisonment up to 6 months, fines up to $500, or both.
  • Note: Subsection (a)(2)-(5) explicitly preserves the right to lawful picketing or demonstrations (e.g., labor protests).

New offense: Unlawful interference with traffic (11-45-3)

  • Crimes established when a person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly:
    • Stands, sits, kneels, or loiters on a federal or state highway in a way that could reasonably be construed as interfering with lawful traffic.
    • Stands/sits/loiters on a highway in a manner that causes interruption, obstruction, distraction, or delay to motorists.
  • Complainant: Any person, including a police officer.
  • Penalties (felony sentencing structure, with escalating levels and mandatory minimums):
    • First violation: 1 to 3 years imprisonment; at least 60 days of the sentence not eligible for suspension, deferral, or probation.
    • Second violation: 3 to 5 years; at least 1 year not eligible for suspension, deferral, or probation.
    • Third violation: 5 to 10 years; at least 2 years not eligible for suspension, deferral, or probation.
  • Enhanced penalty for causing the death of a person due to interruption/obstruction/delay of an emergency vehicle:
    • Felony: 5 to 30 years; at least 5 years not eligible for suspension, deferral, or probation.
  • Take effect: The act takes effect upon passage.

Who/what would be affected

  • Individuals engaging in traffic-interference conduct on federal or state highways.
  • Public safety personnel and law enforcement who can file complaints.
  • Individuals convicted of unlawful interference with traffic could face substantial felony prison terms, with mandatory minimums applying on first/second/third offenses.
  • Emergency responders and the driving public, given potential impact on emergency vehicle operations and highway safety.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date: Upon passage (immediate upon enactment).
  • Administrative path: Requires passage by the Rhode Island General Assembly and signature by the governor.
  • Legislative process: Referred to Senate Judiciary; scheduled for a hearing/consideration on May 12, 2026.

Potential implications and considerations

  • Stricter penalties for highway-related conduct may deter obstruction of traffic and endangerment of emergency vehicles.
  • The establishment of mandatory minimum sentences reduces judicial discretion for these offenses.
  • The provisions preserve lawful protest activities (picketing/demonstrations) under disorderly conduct, indicating an attempt to target traffic interference specifically while protecting lawful demonstrations.
  • Law enforcement and prosecutors will need to assess what constitutes “could reasonably be construed as interfering with the lawful movement of traffic” to ensure consistent application.

If you’d like, I can add a side-by-side comparison with existing Rhode Island disorderly conduct provisions or draft a concise one-page briefing for policymakers.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.