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HB 5638

AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- ACCIDENTS AND ACCIDENT REPORTS

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Deb Fellela and 2 co-sponsors

HB 5638 tightens hit-and-run penalties, making drivers who leave crashes face longer license suspensions, heavier fines, and prison terms for injuries or death.

05/02/2025 Referred to Senate Judiciary
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Bill Summary · HB 5638

Summary — HB 5638 (2025)

Title: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES — ACCIDENTS AND ACCIDENT REPORTS
Sponsors: Reps. Serpa, Noret, and Fellela

Purpose

HB 5638 increases criminal penalties, fines, and license sanctions for drivers who fail to stop after motor-vehicle accidents that result in injury, serious bodily injury, or death. It also strengthens penalties for "driving so as to endanger" when injury or death results.

Key provisions and changes

  • Amends R.I. Gen. Laws chapter 31-26 (Accidents and Accident Reports) — Section 31-26-1:

    • Requires drivers involved in accidents that cause injury, serious bodily injury, or death to stop immediately and remain at the scene until § 31-26-3 requirements are satisfied; stops should not obstruct traffic more than necessary.
    • Failing to stop when the accident results in injury: mandatory license loss of 1–5 years; imprisonment up to 5 years and/or a fine up to $5,000.
    • Failing to stop when the accident results in serious bodily injury:
    • First conviction: imprisonment of not less than 1 year and up to (now) 15 years, fine $1,000–$5,000; license revoked 2–10 years; DMV proof of financial responsibility required before reinstatement.
    • Second/subsequent conviction within 5 years: imprisonment 2–15 years, fine $3,000–$10,000; license revoked up to 4 years (per bill text).
    • Defines “serious bodily injury” as injury creating substantial risk of death, serious disfigurement, or protracted loss/impairment of bodily function.
    • Failing to stop when the accident results in death:
    • First conviction: imprisonment not less than 5 years and up to (now) 30 years, fine $5,000–$10,000; license revoked for at least 5 years and may be permanently revoked; reinstatement only after satisfying DMV and financial responsibility requirements.
    • Second/subsequent conviction within 5 years: imprisonment 5–20 years, fine $10,000–$20,000; license revoked 5 years; DMV proof of financial responsibility required before reinstatement.
    • Explicitly applies these rules to collisions with pedestrians and bicyclists.

  • Amends R.I. Gen. Laws chapter 31-27 (Motor Vehicle Offenses):

    • 31-27-1 (Driving so as to endanger, resulting in death): maximum imprisonment increased (text reflects increase up to 30 years); license revocation increased (revoked for at least 5 years and possibly permanent).
    • 31-27-1.1 (Driving so as to endanger, resulting in serious bodily injury): maximum imprisonment increased (text shows up to 15 years) and longer license suspension/revocation provisions (some language truncated in provided text but indicates harsher penalties).

Who is affected

  • Drivers involved in crashes causing injury, serious injury, or death — including collisions with pedestrians and bicyclists.
  • Victims and their families (criminal penalties and license sanctions may be increased).
  • Courts, prosecutors, law enforcement, Department of Motor Vehicles (administration of longer revocations), and correctional system (potentially increased incarceration).
  • Auto insurers may be affected by changes in financial responsibility requirements and license revocations.

Procedural status / timeline

  • Introduced Feb 26, 2025; filed March 14, 2025.
  • House committee consideration in March 2025; committee recommended passage.
  • Passed House April 24, 2025.
  • Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee May 2, 2025 (current status).

Considerations

  • The bill substantially increases mandatory minimums, maximum sentences, fines, and license revocation periods for hit-and-run and reckless-driving incidents causing serious harm.
  • May increase demands on correctional and DMV systems; aims to strengthen deterrence and accountability for leaving crash scenes.

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

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