§ 31-18-20.1. Operation of wheelchairs — Lamps and other equipment required.
(a) Any wheelchair, motorized or manual, operating upon roadways, when in use at nighttime, shall be equipped with: a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred (500′) feet to the front.
(b) Every wheelchair shall be equipped with a red reflector of a type approved by the division of motor vehicles which shall be visible from six hundred (600′) feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle.
(c) Side Reflectors. Every wheelchair operating upon roadways, when in use at nighttime, shall be equipped with a minimum of twenty (20) square inches on each side of the wheelchair of white reflective material on the wheels or tires to indicate as nearly as possible the continuous circular shape and size of the wheels or tires of each wheelchair. All reflective material shall be visible during the hours of darkness from five hundred (500′) feet when viewed under lawful low beam headlights under normal atmospheric conditions on straight, level, unlighted roadway, and shall meet the requirements as prescribed by the division of motor vehicles.
(d) No person shall sell a wheelchair, new or used, that is not equipped with side reflectors, rear reflectors and front white light as required by this section. Wheelchairs sold to institutions for the exclusive use inside facilities shall be exempt from this section, provided that no exempt wheelchair shall be used upon roadways.
History of Section.P.L. 1996, ch. 337, § 1.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 31 - Motor and Other Vehicles
Section 31-18-1. - Applicability of regulations to pedestrians.
Section 31-18-2. - Local ordinances.
Section 31-18-3. - Right-of-way in crosswalk.
Section 31-18-4. - Overtaking of vehicle stopped for pedestrian.
Section 31-18-5. - Crossing other than at crosswalks.
Section 31-18-6. - Crossing where tunnel or overhead is provided.
Section 31-18-7. - Crossing between intersections.
Section 31-18-8. - Due care by drivers.
Section 31-18-9. - Right half of crosswalks.
Section 31-18-10. - Walking in street prohibited.
Section 31-18-11. - Walking, jogging, or running on left.
Section 31-18-11.1. - Severability.
Section 31-18-12. - Hitchhiking in road.
Section 31-18-13. - Use of white cane restricted to blind persons.
Section 31-18-14. - Full stop for pedestrian with guide dog or white cane.
Section 31-18-15. - Pedestrians who are blind or deaf not guided by dog or carrying white cane.
Section 31-18-16. - Penalty for violations as to people who are blind.
Section 31-18-16.1. - Failure to stop on red signal for blind person at intersection.
Section 31-18-17. - Pedestrians on freeways.
Section 31-18-18. - Right-of-way on sidewalks.
Section 31-18-19. - Negligence of children.
Section 31-18-20. - Wheelchairs — Rights and duties.
Section 31-18-20.1. - Operation of wheelchairs — Lamps and other equipment required.
Section 31-18-20.2. - Wheelchair use in roadway prohibited.
Section 31-18-21. - Pedestrians and bike facilities.
Section 31-18-22. - Public information and education on the rights of pedestrians.