Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 39-4 - Hearings and Investigations
Section 39-4-22. - Penalties for violations.

§ 39-4-22. Penalties for violations.
Every public utility or water supplier pursuant to chapter 15.4 of title 46 [repealed], and all officers and agents thereof, shall obey, observe, and comply with every order of the division made under the authority of chapters 1 — 5 of this title as long as the order shall be and remain in force. Every public utility or water supplier that shall violate any of the provisions of the chapters or that fails, omits, or neglects to obey, observe, or comply with any order of the division, shall be subject to a penalty of not less than two hundred dollars ($200) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each and every offense. Every violation of the order shall be a separate and distinct offense and, in case of a continuing violation, every day’s continuance thereof shall be, and be deemed to be, a separate and distinct offense. Every officer, agent, or employee of a public utility or water supplier who shall violate any of the provisions of the chapters, or who procures, aids, or abets any violation by any public utility or water supplier, or who shall fail to obey, observe, or comply with any order of the division, or any provision of an order of the division, or who procures, aids, or abets any public utility or water supplier in its failure to obey, observe, or comply with any order or provision, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500). In construing and enforcing the provisions of this section, the act, omission, or failure of any officer, agent, or other person acting for or employed by any public utility or water supplier, acting within the scope of his or her employment, shall in every case be deemed to be also the act, omission, or failure of the public utility or water supplier.
History of Section.P.L. 1912, ch. 795, § 30; G.L. 1923, ch. 253, § 30; G.L. 1938, ch. 122, § 27; G.L. 1956, § 39-4-22; P.L. 1980, ch. 39, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 188, § 4.

Structure Rhode Island General Laws

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.

Section 39-4-24. - Actions for penalties and forfeitures.