Adds a provision in the statute relating to one way highways, providing an increased penalty when a motorist travels the wrong way on an interstate highway or an entrance or exit ramp connected to an interstate highway.
Summary
S0529 amends Rhode Island’s rules of the road governing one-way highways. The bill keeps the existing requirement that drivers travel only in the posted direction on one-way roadways, but adds a specific penalty enhancement for motorists who drive the wrong way on an interstate highway or on an entrance or exit ramp connected to an interstate. Under the new language, those violations may be punished by a fine of up to $500, a license suspension of up to six months, or both.
The measure is aimed at addressing the heightened danger posed by wrong-way driving on interstate facilities, where collisions are often severe. It does not create a new offense so much as it increases the consequences for a particularly hazardous subset of one-way violations. The act takes effect upon passage.
Impact
The bill amends § 31-15-9 of the Rhode Island General Laws, within Chapter 31-15 on passing, lane use, and rules of the road. It preserves the general one-way traffic rule and existing fine structure, while adding a higher penalty tier for wrong-way driving on interstate highways and related ramps. The practical effect is to give law enforcement and courts stronger sanctioning authority for interstate wrong-way violations, potentially affecting drivers, license holders, and traffic enforcement practices statewide.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong, broad support for the bill. The Senate approved an amendment unanimously, then passed the bill as amended unanimously, and the House later passed it in concurrence with only one dissenting vote. There is no committee transcript available, but the recorded votes suggest the measure was viewed as a straightforward public-safety bill with little opposition.
Contention
No major substantive controversy is evident in the available record. The only notable point of possible debate is the severity of the enhanced penalty—up to a $500 fine and six-month license suspension—for wrong-way driving on interstates and ramps. However, the unanimous Senate votes and near-unanimous House concurrence indicate that any concerns about penalty severity, enforcement, or proportionality were limited and did not generate significant opposition.