Rhode Island

Rhode Island General Laws — Title 31, Motor and Other Vehicles

1,125 sections, each with the official text and a plain-English explanation of what it means for you.

• § 31-17-6 — Yielding to emergency vehicle
• § 31-17-7 — Right-of-way of fire companies
• § 31-17-8 — Right-of-way at rotary
• § 31-17-9 — Yielding to riders on bicycle lane
• § 31-18-1 — Applicability of regulations to pedestrians
• § 31-18-10 — Walking in street prohibited
• § 31-18-11 — Walking, jogging, or running on left
• § 31-18-11.1 — Severability
• § 31-18-12 — Hitchhiking in road
• § 31-18-13 — Use of white cane restricted to blind persons
• § 31-18-14 — Full stop for pedestrian with guide dog or white cane
• § 31-18-15 — Pedestrians who are blind or deaf not guided by dog or carrying white cane
• § 31-18-16 — Penalty for violations as to people who are blind
• § 31-18-16.1 — Failure to stop on red signal for blind person at intersection
• § 31-18-17 — Pedestrians on freeways
• § 31-18-18 — Right-of-way on sidewalks
• § 31-18-19 — Negligence of children
• § 31-18-2 — Local ordinances
• § 31-18-20 — Wheelchairs — Rights and duties
• § 31-18-20.1 — Operation of wheelchairs — Lamps and other equipment required
• § 31-18-20.2 — Wheelchair use in roadway prohibited
• § 31-18-21 — Pedestrians and bike facilities
• § 31-18-22 — Public information and education on the rights of pedestrians
• § 31-18-3 — Right-of-way in crosswalk
• § 31-18-4 — Overtaking of vehicle stopped for pedestrian
• § 31-18-5 — Crossing other than at crosswalks
• § 31-18-6 — Crossing where tunnel or overhead is provided
• § 31-18-7 — Crossing between intersections
• § 31-18-8 — Due care by drivers
• § 31-18-9 — Right half of crosswalks
• § 31-19-1 — Violations
• § 31-19-10 — Lamps and other equipment on bicycles
• § 31-19-11 — Bicycles and motorized wheelchairs on sidewalks and crosswalks
• § 31-19-12 — Bicycles on sidewalks and crosswalks — Rights and duties
• § 31-19-13 — Bicycle parking
• § 31-19-14 — Turn and stop signals
• § 31-19-15 — Left turns
• § 31-19-16 — Bicycle identifying number
• § 31-19-17 — Inspecting bicycles
• § 31-19-18 — Bicycle racing
• § 31-19-19 — Use of coasters, roller skates, and similar devices restricted
• § 31-19-2 — Responsibility of parent or guardian
• § 31-19-2.1 — Helmets required on bicycle operators, bicycle passengers, skateboarders, rollerskaters, inline skaters, and scooter riders ages fifteen (15) and younger
• § 31-19-20 — Sale of new bicycles
• § 31-19-21 — Sale of used bicycles
• § 31-19-22 — Use of pedal carriages and rickshaws in the town of New Shoreham
• § 31-19-3 — Applicability of traffic laws
• § 31-19-4 — Excessive number of persons on bicycle
• § 31-19-5 — Clinging to vehicles
• § 31-19-6 — Bicycles to right of road
• § 31-19-7 — Number of bicycles abreast
• § 31-19-9 — Carrying articles
• § 31-2-1 — Establishment — Duties — Chief of division
• § 31-2-10 — Abstracts of operator’s records
• § 31-2-11 — Records open for inspection — Admissibility of certified copies of records as evidence
• § 31-2-12 — Destruction of obsolete records
• § 31-2-14 — Investigation of applications — Rejection
• § 31-2-15 — Seizure of documents and plates
• § 31-2-16 — Publication of laws
• § 31-2-17 — Summons of witnesses — Taking of testimony
• § 31-2-18 — Service of notice
• § 31-2-19 — Appeal from administrator of the division of motor vehicles
• § 31-2-2 — Subordinates and investigators
• § 31-2-20 — Registration and license information — Fee
• § 31-2-21 — Record of hearings
• § 31-2-22 — Authority to enter into reciprocity agreements
• § 31-2-23 — Denial of license or registrations for nonpayment of delinquent child support
• § 31-2-24 — Service fees on returned checks
• § 31-2-25 — Surrender of suspended license
• § 31-2-26 — Surrender of suspended registration
• § 31-2-27 — Technology surcharge fee
• § 31-2-28 — Expiration dates
• § 31-2-3 — Enforcement duties of administrator
• § 31-2-4 — Rules and regulations — Exception to authority
• § 31-2-5 — Official seal
• § 31-2-6 — Offices
• § 31-2-7 — Forms
• § 31-2-8 — Oaths and acknowledgments
• § 31-2-9 — Certified copies of licenses, applications and certificates
• § 31-20-1 — When railroad crossing stops required of all vehicles
• § 31-20-10 — Vehicles emerging from alleys, driveways, and buildings
• § 31-20-10.3 — School bus stops — Routes
• § 31-20-10.4 — Exemption from discharge requirements of § 31-20-10.3
• § 31-20-11 — Marking of school buses — Penalty for violation
• § 31-20-11.1 — Signaling of stops for school buses
• § 31-20-12 — Stopping for school bus required — Penalty for violation
• § 31-20-13 — School buses stopped on divided highway or in loading zone
• § 31-20-15 — Posting of bridle path signs
• § 31-20-16 — Stops at bridle path crossings
• § 31-20-17 — Stopping for crossing guards and school bus monitors required
• § 31-20-17.1 — Private complaint — Stopping for crossing guard/bus monitor required
• § 31-20-17.2 — Private complaint — Stopping for crossing guard/bus monitor required — Central Falls
• § 31-20-2 — Driving through railroad gate or barrier
• § 31-20-3 — Stop signs at dangerous railroad crossings
• § 31-20-4 — Vehicles required to stop at all railroads — Exceptions
• § 31-20-5 — Moving of heavy equipment over railroad crossings
• § 31-20-6 — Designation of through highways — Erection of stop and yield signs
• § 31-20-7 — Specifications for stop signs
• § 31-20-8 — Placement of stop signs
• § 31-20-9 — Obedience to stop signs
• § 31-21-1 — Stopping on traveled portion of open highway prohibited
• § 31-21-10 — Restriction of parking on state highways
• § 31-21-10.1 — Removal of vehicles parked in excess of twenty-four hours
• § 31-21-11 — Removal of disabled vehicle obstructing traffic on state highway, state bridge, or state tunnel
• § 31-21-12 — Acquisition, maintenance, and operation of tow trucks by department of transportation
• § 31-21-14 — Opening vehicle doors
• § 31-21-15 — Temporary no parking
• § 31-21-16 — Liability of owner, operator, and lessee
• § 31-21-17 — Motorcycle parking privileges
• § 31-21-18 — Electric vehicle charging station parking restrictions
• § 31-21-2 — Removal of vehicle parked on highway
• § 31-21-3 — Removal of vehicle obstructing traffic on bridge or in tunnel
• § 31-21-4 — Places where parking or stopping prohibited
• § 31-21-5 — Unauthorized movement of vehicle into prohibited area
• § 31-21-6 — Admission or discharge of passengers
• § 31-21-7 — Parallel parking — Proximity to curb
• § 31-21-8 — Left curb parking
• § 31-21-9 — Angle parking
• § 31-22-1 — Unattended vehicles
• § 31-22-10 — Regulation as to school buses
• § 31-22-10.1 — Insurance for school buses
• § 31-22-11 — Inspection of school buses
• § 31-22-11.1 — Enforcement of inspections of school buses
• § 31-22-11.2 — Maintenance of school buses
• § 31-22-11.3 — Random inspection of school buses
• § 31-22-11.4 — School bus drivers pre-trip inspection
• § 31-22-11.5 — Use of school bus with suspended registration — Penalty
• § 31-22-11.6 — Childcare vehicles and school extracurricular vehicles
• § 31-22-11.7 — Unauthorized school bus entry
• § 31-22-11.8 — Unauthorized use of personal wireless communication devices on a school bus
• § 31-22-11.9 — Use of personal wireless communications devices by minors while operating motor vehicles is prohibited
• § 31-22-12 — Supervision and inspection of vehicles transporting passengers for hire
• § 31-22-13 — Abandoned vehicles
• § 31-22-14 — Towing — Costs paid by owner
• § 31-22-14.1 — Towing — Accident scene
• § 31-22-15 — Lien for towing and storage charges
• § 31-22-16 — Sale to enforce lien
• § 31-22-17 — Notice of sale
• § 31-22-18 — Newspaper advertisement of sale
• § 31-22-19 — House trailers
• § 31-22-2 — Restrictions on backing
• § 31-22-20 — Solicitation on roadways, permit required
• § 31-22-21.1 — Presence of alcoholic beverages while operating or riding in a motor vehicle
• § 31-22-22 — Safety belt use — Child restraint
• § 31-22-22.1 — Child passenger protection — Warnings of hazard and risk
• § 31-22-23 — Tow trucks — Identification required
• § 31-22-24 — Interior lights to be operated before dawn and after dusk during police stop
• § 31-22-25 — Approaching horses
• § 31-22-26 — Noise in vicinity of horse
• § 31-22-27 — Severability
• § 31-22-28 — Transporting animals
• § 31-22-29 — Inspection of fire apparatus vehicles
• § 31-22-3 — Riding on motorcycles
• § 31-22-3.1 — Riding on motor driven cycles — Passengers prohibited
• § 31-22-30 — Distracted driving prohibited while operating a motor vehicle
• § 31-22-31 — Mobile telephone usage by motor vehicle operators
• § 31-22-4 — Overloading of vehicles
• § 31-22-5 — Safety zones
• § 31-22-6 — Coasting prohibited
• § 31-22-7 — Following fire apparatus
• § 31-22-8 — Crossing fire hose
• § 31-22-9 — Throwing debris on highway — Snow removal
• § 31-23-1 — Driving of unsafe vehicle — Disobedience of requirements — Inspections of motor carriers — Fines
• § 31-23-10 — Sirens, bells, and whistles prohibited
• § 31-23-11 — Warning devices on emergency vehicles
• § 31-23-11.1 — Warning lights on private vehicles
• § 31-23-12 — Salvation Army vehicle
• § 31-23-12.1 — Providence canteen vehicles
• § 31-23-13 — Muffler
• § 31-23-13.1 — Altering height of or operating a motor vehicle with an altered height prohibited
• § 31-23-14 — Prevention of excessive fumes or smoke
• § 31-23-14.1 — Fire extinguishers
• § 31-23-15 — Rear-view mirror
• § 31-23-16 — Windshield and window stickers — Obstructions to clear view — Snow and ice on vehicle
• § 31-23-17 — Windshield wipers
• § 31-23-18 — Solid rubber tires
• § 31-23-19 — Metal tires prohibited
• § 31-23-2 — Additional parts and accessories
• § 31-23-20 — Protuberances on tires
• § 31-23-21 — Permits for operation of vehicles having tracks with transverse corrugations
• § 31-23-22 — Safety glass in new vehicles
• § 31-23-23 — Replacement with safety glass
• § 31-23-24 — “Safety glass” defined
• § 31-23-25 — List of approved types of glass — Enforcement of requirements
• § 31-23-26 — Fenders and wheel flaps required
• § 31-23-27 — Rear wheel flaps on buses, trucks, and trailers
• § 31-23-28 — Failure to have fenders or wheel flaps
• § 31-23-29 — Flares and warning devices
• § 31-23-3 — Farm and road machinery exempt
• § 31-23-37 — Transporting hazardous substances
• § 31-23-38 — Television receivers prohibited
• § 31-23-39 — Safety seat belts in new vehicles
• § 31-23-4 — Brake equipment required
• § 31-23-40 — Approved types of seat belts — Enforcement of requirements
• § 31-23-41 — Safety belts in public service vehicles
• § 31-23-42 — First-aid kit and heating equipment in school bus
• § 31-23-42.1 — Special mirrors on school buses
• § 31-23-42.2 — Power equipment on school buses
• § 31-23-43 — Wheel safety chocks
• § 31-23-44 — Approved type of wheel safety chocks — Enforcement of requirements