(a)  No operator of a motor vehicle shall proceed into an intersection that has been designated, posted, and marked by a municipality in accordance with subsection (b), except when making a turn, unless there is sufficient space on the opposite side of the intersection to accommodate such motor vehicle without obstructing the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians, notwithstanding the indication of a traffic control signal that would permit such operator to proceed into the intersection.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 31-15-12.2

  • Motor vehicle: means any vehicle driven or drawn by mechanical power for use on the public streets, roads, and highways;

    (2)  "Odometer" means an instrument for measuring and recording the actual distance a motor vehicle travels while in operation;

    (3)  "Person" means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or business trust including, but not limited to, private individuals and motor vehicle dealers, both wholesale and retail, whether the private individual or dealer is a dealer in the ordinary course of business or not;

    (4)  "Repair and replacement" means to restore to a sound working condition by replacing the instrument or any part thereof or by correcting what is inoperative;

    (5)  "Transfer" means to acquire ownership by purchase, gift, bequest, or any other means. See Rhode Island General Laws 31-23.2-2

  • town: may be construed to include city; the words "town council" include city council; the words "town clerk" include city clerk; the words "ward clerk" include clerk of election district; the words "town treasurer" include city treasurer; and the words "town sergeant" include city sergeant. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-9

(b)  Any municipality may, by ordinance, designate one or more intersections within that municipality as “Don’t Block the Box” intersections, to which the provisions of subsection (a) shall apply. The municipality shall:

(1)  Post “Don’t Block the Box” signs, as designed by the state traffic commission so as to have conformity in all municipalities, at each such designated intersection indicating that blocking the intersection is prohibited and violators are subject to a fine; and

(2)  Mark, in white paint, the boundary of such intersection with a line not less than one-foot in width and the area within such boundary line with parallel diagonal lines not less than one-foot in width.

(c)  Prior to January 1, 2017, any motorist who violates this subsection shall be issued a verbal warning only; this verbal warning shall only apply to “Don’t Block the Box” intersections as established by subsection (b).

(d)  Effective January 1, 2017, any motorist who commits a first violation of this section shall be fined one hundred dollars ($100); a second violation of this section shall be fined two hundred fifty dollars ($250); and for a third and subsequent violation of this section, five hundred dollars ($500).

(e)  Any city or town that determines that it has a traffic and safety problem in its community due to violations of this section on state intersections located within its municipality may petition the state traffic commission, created by § 31-13-1, for permission to paint “Don’t Block the Box” lines in accordance with subsection (b).

History of Section.
P.L. 2016, ch. 539, § 1.