MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSES, the official text

S2493 2026 -- S 2493 ======== LC004510 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSES Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, Patalano, Thompson, Appollonio, Famiglietti, Tikoian, Burke, and Paolino Date Introduced: February 06, 2026 Referred To: Senate Judiciary It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Section 31-27-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-27 entitled Motor 2 Vehicle Offenses is hereby amended to read as follows: 3 31-27-4. Reckless driving and other offenses against public safety. 4 Any person who operates a motor vehicle recklessly so that the lives or safety of the public 5 might be endangered, or operates a vehicle in an attempt to elude or flee from a traffic officer or 6 police vehicle, or who commits one or more moving violations while traveling at least twenty-five 7 miles per hour (25 mph) shall be guilty of a misdemeanor for the first conviction and a felony for 8 the second and each subsequent conviction a felony and shall be imprisoned for not more than five 9 (5) years and fined not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000), nor more than five thousand dollars 10 ($5,000) . 11 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC004510 ======== EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSES *** 1 This act would increase the penalties for reckless driving from a misdemeanor first offense 2 to a felony, with a penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of between one thousand dollars 3 ($1,000) and five thousand dollars ($5,000). 4 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC004510 ======== LC004510 - Page 2 of 2