H 7209Personal

Motor and Other Vehicles - Motor Vehicle Offenses

Paying a minor traffic ticket within 30 days prevents it from appearing on your driving record, up to twice annually.

Held for study

Population
Affected

Introduced Jan 21, 2026Committee House Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This legislation allows drivers who receive a moving violation to avoid having the offense listed on their official DMV driving record, provided the violation is one that can be paid without going to court. To qualify, the driver must pay the fine in full within thirty days of receiving the ticket. Drivers are permitted to use this option up to two times per year. Essentially, prompt payment serves as a way to keep a driving record clean for minor traffic offenses.

For younger readers

If a driver breaks a traffic rule, like speeding, they usually get a ticket and a mark on their permanent driving record. This new law gives drivers a second chance. If the driver pays the money for the ticket quickly—within 30 days—the state promises not to put that mark on their record. Drivers are allowed to do this two times every year. This helps them keep a "clean" record as long as they pay their fine right away.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

MotoristsInsurance CompaniesDivision of Motor VehiclesTraffic TribunalPolice Departments

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

None

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Protects working-class individuals from long-term financial harm, such as increased insurance premiums, that typically follow minor traffic infractions.
Reduces the need for individuals to interact with the court system or law enforcement, potentially lowering the risk of escalation or legal entanglement for minor offenses.
Helps individuals maintain employment eligibility, as many jobs require a clean driving record which could otherwise be tarnished by minor violations.
Create a two-tiered justice system where wealthy drivers can "buy" a clean record by paying immediately, while low-income drivers who need payment plans or time to gather funds are penalized with a permanent record.
Undermines public safety by allowing dangerous driving habits to go unrecorded, potentially masking the need for intervention or retraining.
Obscures data regarding traffic violations, making it more difficult to analyze systemic issues or bias in traffic enforcement if records are suppressed.

For Conservatives

Reduces government bureaucracy and court congestion by encouraging out-of-court settlements, streamlining the justice system and saving taxpayer resources.
Protects personal privacy and limits government tracking by preventing minor infractions from becoming a permanent part of a citizen's state record.
Prevents insurance companies from capitalizing on minor government infractions to raise rates on private citizens, preserving individual financial freedom.
Undermines the rule of law by allowing individuals to escape the full consequences of their illegal actions simply by writing a check.
Compromises public safety by allowing bad drivers to remain on the road without the accumulation of points or records that would normally flag them as high-risk.
Erodes personal responsibility, as it treats traffic laws as a fee-for-service transaction rather than a standard of conduct that must be upheld.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 5 additions

SECTION 1. Chapter 31-27 of the General Laws entitled "Motor Vehicle Offenses" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 31-27-26. Prompt violation payment. Any motorist who receives a moving violation, which may be paid without a court appearance, and who pays the fine in full within thirty (30) days of its issuance, shall not have the violation recorded on the motorist's division of motor vehicle's driving record; provided, however, that this procedure may not be utilized more than twice a year.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.