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HB 8481

AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- ADJUDICATION OF TRAFFIC OFFENSES

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Doc Corvese

The bill authorizes administrative adjudication for a broad list of traffic offenses and raises speeding fines in residential and school zones to deter dangerous driving.

05/05/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · HB 8481

Bill Summary: HB 8481 (2026) – Rhode Island Adjudication of Traffic Offenses

Overview

  • Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
  • Session: 2026
  • Introduced by: Representative Arthur J. Corvese (co-sponsor: Doc Corvese)
  • Committee: House Judiciary
  • Purpose: Establish administrative handling for a broad list of traffic violations and adjust speeding fines for certain zones. The act clarifies which offenses may be adjudicated administratively and modifies penalties related to speeding in residential or school zones.

Main Purpose and Intent

  • Streamline the adjudication process for selected traffic violations by allowing administrative handling (via the traffic tribunal or municipal court) for offenses listed in the schedule.
  • Increase certain speeding fines in residential or school zones to deter speeding and enhance traffic safety.
  • Preserve other penalties and procedures for offenses outside the administrative list.

Key Provisions and Changes

Section 1: Schedule of Violations and Administrative Adjudication

  • Creates a list of offenses that may be handled administratively under the chapter “Adjudication of Traffic Offenses.”
  • Each listed offense is associated with a total fine (mostly $100, with some variations).
  • Specific notes:
    • Offenses that require punishment variation by severity or that require a service must be heard by the traffic tribunal or municipal court (i.e., not administratively adjudicated).
    • The list is not exclusive; other violations could be conferred jurisdiction for administrative handling.
  • Examples of offenses included on the administrative list (with fixed fines):
    • DOT/DEM violations and various motor vehicle-related infractions (e.g., soliciting rides, back-in parking prohibitions, advertising on highways, park-and-ride violations, nonpayment of toll, plate visibility/display, expired registration, notification/address changes, helmet requirements for motorcyclists, local ordinances, etc.).
    • Numerous speed-related entries with fixed fines such as reasonable and prudent speed, reduced speed zones, and speed limits on bridges.
    • Sending/receiving notices for change of address, registration issues, inspection stickers, and a wide array of equipment/safety violations (e.g., mufflers, horns, tires, seat belts for passengers/operators, school-bus-related requirements, towing, and more).
  • Special speeding-related provisions within the schedule:
    • Some entries reflect speeding-related fines (e.g., “Reasonable and prudent speed” at $95.00 to $170.00, and other speed-related items at $95.00 or $100.00 base levels).

Section 1 (Speeding Penalties) – Additional Text

  • Bifurcated speeding penalties outlined elsewhere in the table, including:
    • For up to 10 mph over limit in public highways: base fines plus per-mile surcharges for second and subsequent offenses within 12 months, possible license suspension up to 30 days.
    • For more than 10 mph over limit in public highways: mandatory per-mile fines for first offense, escalating amounts for second and third offenses within 12 months, possible license suspension up to 60 days.
  • Administrative payment: Those paying administratively (per this chapter) would not incur additional costs or assessments beyond the stated fine, absent a separate technology surcharge.

Section 2: Effective Date

  • Effective upon passage (no delayed or staged effective date).

Who and What Is Affected

  • Affected Agencies/Entities:
    • Rhode Island traffic courts and municipal courts (administrative adjudication pathway via the traffic tribunal or municipal court).
  • Affected Individuals/Actors:
    • Drivers and vehicle operators cited for listed violations (primarily minor offenses with fixed fines, and some health/safety-related infractions).
  • Financial/Timing Impact:
    • Fixed administrative fines for many offenses (commonly $100; some items have different figures or multipliers for certain offenses like speeding in specific zones).
    • Speeding penalties in residential/school zones are increased (as described in the bill explanation) to appear in the cited text.
    • The act specifies no additional costs when fines are paid administratively, aside from a potential technology surcharge.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Administrative Adjudication: The bill delineates which listed offenses may be handled administratively, reducing the need for formal court proceedings for those offenses.
  • Speeding Penalties: Introduces clear enhanced penalties for speeding in residential or school zones, with tiered fines and potential license suspensions based on offense count within a 12-month period.
  • Effective Date: Immediate upon passage (no separate transition period).

Notable Clarifications

  • The list of administratively adjudicated violations is not exclusive; the traffic tribunal may be conferred jurisdiction over other violations.
  • Offenses requiring more severe punishment or that require certain services remain under judicial or traffic tribunal review rather than administrative handling.
  • The bill’s explanation emphasizes increasing the residential/school-zone speeding fines to $175 (1–10 mph over) and $400 (11+ mph over), with related escalation and suspension provisions for repeat offenses.

If you’d like, I can provide a concise one-page briefing with bullet-point takeaways for policymakers or a side-by-side comparison with current Rhode Island traffic-adjudication rules.

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

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