RHODE ISLAND SPEEDING TICKET DEFENSE LAWYER – BENJAMIN A. MESITI, ESQ.
CAN I LOSE MY LICENSE IF I SPEED?
Yes, you can lose your license if you speed. If this is your first offense, losing your license may not be in the cards, but if you are multiple offender, you run a serious risk of losing your license. If this is your third offense within a 12 month period, you could lose your license for up to 60 days. Additionally, § 31-27-24, or, the “Collin Foote Law”, states that if you have 4 or more offenses in an 18 month period, you could lose your license for up to two years, as well as face other civil penalties.
At Mesiti Law we have successfully represented countless cases in Traffic Court. When you’re faced with the decision to pay a ticket or FIGHT, call us for your free consultation.
IF YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN A TICKET FOR SPEEDING, CALL MESITI LAW AT (401) 274-3331. WE ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY!
TITLE 31
Motor and Other vehicles
CHAPTER 31-14
Speed Restrictions
SECTION 31-14-1
§ 31-14-1 Reasonable and prudent speeds. – No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing. In every event, speed shall be so controlled as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle, or other conveyance on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
History of Section.
(P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 25, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 31-14-1; P.L. 2002, ch. 292, § 109.)
TITLE 31
Motor and Other vehicles
CHAPTER 31-41.1
Adjudication of Traffic Offenses
SECTION 31-41.1-4
§ 31-41.1-4 Schedule of violations. – (a) The penalties for violations of the enumerated sections, listed in numerical order, correspond to the fines described. However, those offenses for which punishments which may vary according to the severity of the offense, or punishment which require the violator to perform a service, shall be heard and decided by the traffic tribunal or municipal court. The following violations may be handled administratively through the method prescribed in this chapter. This list is not exclusive and jurisdiction may be conferred on the traffic tribunal with regard to other violations.
VIOLATIONS SCHEDULE
SEE THE BOOK FOR THE PROPER TABLE.
SPEEDING Fine
SEE THE BOOK FOR THE PROPER TABLE.
(b) In addition to any other penalties provided by law, a judge may impose the following penalties for speeding:
(1) For speeds up to and including ten miles per hour (10 mph) over the posted speed limit on public highways, a fine as provided for in subsection (a) of this section for the first offense, ten dollars ($10.00) per mile for each mile in excess of the speed limit for the second offense if within twelve (12) months of the first offense, and fifteen dollars ($15.00) per mile for each mile in excess of the speed limit for the third and any subsequent offense if within twelve (12) months of the first offense. In addition, the license may be suspended up to thirty (30) days.
(2) For speeds in excess of ten miles per hour (10 mph) over the posted speed limit on public highways, a mandatory fine of ten dollars ($10.00) for each mile over the speed limit for the first offense, fifteen dollars ($15.00) per mile for each mile in excess of the speed limit for the second offense if within twelve (12) months of the first offense, and twenty dollars ($20.00) per mile for each mile in excess of the speed limit for the third and subsequent offense if within twelve (12) months of the first offense. In addition, the license may be suspended up to sixty (60) days.
(c) Any person charged with a violation who pays the fine administratively pursuant to chapter 8.2 of title 8 shall not be subject to any additional costs or assessments, including, but not limited to, the hearing fee established in § 8-18-4 or assessment for substance abuse prevention.
History of Section.
(P.L. 1999, ch. 218, art. 3, § 1; P.L. 2000, ch. 98, § 1; P.L. 2000, ch. 109, § 70; P.L. 2000, ch. 223, § 2; P.L. 2000, ch. 280, § 2; P.L. 2000, ch. 318, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 86, § 87; P.L. 2001, ch. 132, § 2; P.L. 2002, ch. 65, art. 13, § 26; P.L. 2002, ch. 134, § 1; P.L. 2002, ch. 292, § 57; P.L. 2004, ch. 6, § 3; P.L. 2005, ch. 64, § 8; P.L. 2005, ch. 67, § 8; P.L. 2005, ch. 117, art. 25, § 4; P.L. 2006, ch. 557, § 3; P.L. 2007, ch. 73, art. 26, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 307, § 2; P.L. 2007, ch. 340, § 4; P.L. 2007, ch. 414, § 2; P.L. 2007, ch. 485, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 9, art. 19, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 100, art. 12, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 241, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 249, § 3; P.L. 2008, ch. 311, § 3; P.L. 2009, ch. 310, § 11; P.L. 2010, ch. 92, § 2; P.L. 2010, ch. 132, § 2.)
TITLE 31
Motor and Other vehicles
CHAPTER 31-27
Motor Vehicle Offenses
SECTION 31-27-24
§ 31-27-24 Multiple moving offenses. – (a) Every person convicted of moving violations on four (4) separate and distinct occasions within an eighteen (18) month period may be fined up to one thousand dollars ($1,000), and shall be ordered to attend sixty (60) hours of driver retraining, shall be ordered to perform sixty (60) hours of public community service, and the person's operator license in this state may be suspended up to one year or revoked by the court for a period of up to two (2) years. Prior to the suspension or revocation of a person's license to operate within the state, the court shall make specific findings of fact and determine if the person's continued operation of a motor vehicle would pose a substantial traffic safety hazard.
(b) At the expiration of the time of revocation as set by the court pursuant to subsection (a) above, the person may petition that court for restoration of his or her privilege to operate a motor vehicle in this state. The license privilege shall not thereafter be reinstated until evidence satisfactory to the court, following a hearing, establishes that no grounds exist which would authorize refusal to issue a license and until the person gives proof of financial responsibility pursuant to chapter 32 of this title.
(c) For the purposes of this section only, the term "moving violations" shall mean any violation of the following sections of the general laws:
(1) 31-13-4. Obedience to devices.
(2) 31-14-1. Reasonable and prudent speeds.
(3) 31-14-2. Prima facie limits.
(4) 31-14-3. Conditions requiring reduced speeds.
(5) 31-15-5. Overtaking on the right.
(6) 31-15-11. Laned roadways.
(7) 31-15-12. Interval between vehicles.
(8) 31-15-16. Use of emergency break-down lane for travel.
(9) 31-17-4. Vehicle entering stop or yield intersection.
(10) 31-20-9. Obedience to stop signs.
(11) 31-27.1-3. "Aggressive driving" defined.
History of Section.
(P.L. 2010, ch. 242, § 2; P.L. 2010, ch. 253, § 2.)
