(a)  Any person who violates § 3-8-11.1 and either pleads nolo contendere or is convicted of a first misdemeanor violation shall be punished by a fine of not less than three hundred fifty dollars ($350.00) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) and/or imprisoned for a period not exceeding six (6) months, or both.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 3-8-11.2

  • Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6

(b)  Any person who violates § 3-8-11.1 and either pleads nolo contendre or is convicted of a second misdemeanor violation shall be punished by a fine of not less than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) and/or imprisoned for a period not exceeding one year, or both.

(c)  Any person who violates § 3-8-11.1 and either pleads nolo contendre or is convicted of a third or subsequent violation shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by a fine not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) and/or imprisonment not exceeding three (3) years. Any person convicted of a second or subsequent offense under of this section shall not have any fine suspended.

History of Section.
G.L. 1938, § 3-8-11.2; P.L. 1963, ch. 147, § 1; P.L. 1983, ch. 247, § 1; P.L. 1985, ch. 266, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 78, § 12; P.L. 1988, ch. 214, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 230, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 272, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 129, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 200, § 1.