§ 39-4-21. Privilege against self-incrimination.
No person shall be excused from testifying or from producing any books, accounts, papers, records, or documents in any investigation or inquiry by, or upon any hearing before, the division or member thereof when ordered to do so by the division or member, upon the ground that the testimony or evidence, accounts, papers, records, books, or documents, required of him or her may tend to incriminate him or her or subject him or her to penalty or forfeiture; but no person shall be prosecuted, punished, or subjected to any penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any act, transaction, matter, or thing concerning which he or she shall, under oath, by order of the division or a member thereof, have testified or produced the documentary evidence; provided, that no person so testifying shall be exempt from prosecution or punishment for any perjury committed by him or her in his or her testimony. Nothing contained in this section is intended to give or shall be construed as in any manner giving any corporation immunity of any kind from the law.
History of Section.P.L. 1912, ch. 795, § 16; G.L. 1923, ch. 253, § 16; G.L. 1938, ch. 122, § 13; G.L. 1956, § 39-4-21; P.L. 1997, ch. 326, § 107.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers
Chapter 39-4 - Hearings and Investigations
Section 39-4-1. - Investigation of personal injuries and deaths.
Section 39-4-2. - Order to repair or make changes in plant or equipment.
Section 39-4-3. - Investigations on complaint against utility — “Safe and potable” defined.
Section 39-4-4. - Notice of complaint — Time and place of hearing.
Section 39-4-5. - Notice of hearing on complaint — Right to appear and summon witnesses.
Section 39-4-6. - Separation of issues — Damage to complainant not required.
Section 39-4-7. - Hearings in locality of consumers affected.
Section 39-4-8. - Filing of contracts.
Section 39-4-9. - Orders fixing rates.
Section 39-4-10. - Orders as to unreasonable practices or inadequate services.
Section 39-4-11. - Orders as to unsafe or improper conditions.
Section 39-4-11.1. - Order to rebate or cancel charges.
Section 39-4-12. - Payment of investigation expense by utility.
Section 39-4-13. - Summary investigation by division.
Section 39-4-14. - Formal investigation — Notice to utility.
Section 39-4-15. - Notice and proceedings on motion of division.
Section 39-4-16. - Service of orders — Effective date.
Section 39-4-17. - Rescission or alteration of orders.
Section 39-4-18. - Review of grade crossing ordinances.
Section 39-4-19, 39-4-20. - [Repealed.]
Section 39-4-21. - Privilege against self-incrimination.
Section 39-4-22. - Penalties for violations.
Section 39-4-23. - Action in supreme court to prevent violations.