§ 31-27-22. Street racing — Justin Nunes’ Law.
This act shall be known and may be cited as “Justin Nunes’ Law”.
(a) For the purpose of this section, “street racing” means the act of two (2) or more individuals competing or racing in a situation in which one of the motor vehicles is beside or to the rear of a motor vehicle operated by a competing driver and one driver attempts to prevent the competing driver from passing or overtaking him or her, or one or more individuals competing in a race against time.
(b) It shall be unlawful to engage in street racing on any public road, street or highway of this state, whether or not there is a formal agreement to race.
(1) Every person convicted of a first violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and be subject to imprisonment for not more than one year, a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and be required to perform ten (10) to sixty (60) hours of public community restitution. The person’s license to operate a motor vehicle shall be suspended for a period of not less than ninety (90) days nor more than six (6) months.
(2) Every person convicted of a second violation within a five (5) year period, shall be guilty of a felony and be subject to imprisonment for not more than two (2) years, a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and be required to perform sixty (60) to one hundred (100) hours of public community restitution. The person’s license to operate a motor vehicle shall be suspended for no less than six (6) months nor more than two (2) years.
(3) Every person convicted of a third (3rd) or subsequent violation within a five (5) year period, shall be guilty of a felony and be subject to imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, a fine of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) and required to perform not less than one hundred (100) hours of public community restitution. The person’s license to operate a motor vehicle shall be suspended for no less than one year nor more than five (5) years.
(c) Any person found in violation of subsection 31-27-22(b) while having one or more passengers in their motor vehicle shall be subject to imprisonment of not more than five (5) years, and a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) and be required to perform no more than one hundred (100) hours of public community restitution. The person’s license to operate a motor vehicle shall be suspended for no less than one year. This enhanced sentence is to be served in addition and consecutively to the sentence provided for the underlying offense.
(d) If a person is found in violation of subsection 31-27-22(b) and the vehicle used in the violation is registered to that person or where the registrant permits the use of the vehicle, the vehicle may be impounded at the registered owner’s expense for not less than one day or more than thirty (30) days.
History of Section.P.L. 2007, ch. 121, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 193, § 1.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 31 - Motor and Other Vehicles
Chapter 31-27 - Motor Vehicle Offenses
Section 31-27-1. - Driving so as to endanger, resulting in death.
Section 31-27-1.1. - Driving so as to endanger, resulting in serious personal injury.
Section 31-27-1.2. - Driving so as to endanger, resulting in physical injury.
Section 31-27-2. - Driving under influence of liquor or drugs.
Section 31-27-2.1. - Refusal to submit to chemical test.
Section 31-27-2.2. - Driving under the influence of liquor or drugs, resulting in death.
Section 31-27-2.3. - Revocation of license upon refusal to submit to preliminary breath test.
Section 31-27-2.4. - Driving while in possession of controlled substances.
Section 31-27-2.7. - Driving while impaired.
Section 31-27-2.9. - Administration of chemical test.
Section 31-27-3. - Right of person charged with operating under influence to physical examination.
Section 31-27-3.1. - Annual Impaired Driving Report.
Section 31-27-4. - Reckless driving and other offenses against public safety.
Section 31-27-4.1. - Eluding a law enforcement officer with a motor vehicle in a high speed pursuit.
Section 31-27-4.2. - Minimal requirements.
Section 31-27-4.3. - Forfeiture of motor vehicle.
Section 31-27-4.4. - Motor vehicle forfeiture procedure.
Section 31-27-4.5. - Educational requirement.
Section 31-27-5. - Motor carriers — Maximum driving and on-duty time.
Section 31-27-6. - Lanes of operation.
Section 31-27-7. - Commercial vehicles — Off-duty conditions — Emergency exceptions.
Section 31-27-8. - Commercial vehicles — Penalty for excessive hours of driving.
Section 31-27-9. - Parties to offenses.
Section 31-27-10. - Offenses by persons directing drivers.
Section 31-27-11. - Vehicle used as bail.
Section 31-27-12. - Service of notice — Summons.
Section 31-27-12.1. - Preparation of summons and related records — Content and form.
Section 31-27-12.2. - Distribution of books or pads.
Section 31-27-12.3. - Preparation and disposition of records.
Section 31-27-12.4. - Disposition of complaint only by court.
Section 31-27-13. - Nature of offenses — Penalty.
Section 31-27-14. - Penalty for felonies.
Section 31-27-15. - Disposition of fines and forfeitures.
Section 31-27-17. - Permitting juvenile to operate an unregistered motorcycle.
Section 31-27-18. - Emergency medical services — Special assessment.
Section 31-27-19. - Operating a motor vehicle on a bicycle lane, trail or path.
Section 31-27-20. - Operation of a motor vehicle — Letter carrier.
Section 31-27-21. - Community restitution.
Section 31-27-22. - Street racing — Justin Nunes’ Law.
Section 31-27-23. - Penalties for failure to comply with § 24-8-4.2.