RI 2026 H7437aa: Motor and Other Vehicles - Automated Traffic Violation Monetary Systems

Plain-English Summary

This bill extends the allowed use of automated traffic cameras that monitor "Don't Block the Box" intersections. Currently, cities and towns are permitted to use these cameras at up to three intersections to catch drivers who block the intersection, but this permission was set to expire on January 15, 2027. This legislation pushes that expiration date back by three years, allowing municipalities to continue using these automated systems until January 15, 2030. It also maintains strict privacy rules regarding the footage captured by these cameras.

For younger readers

Sometimes, cars get stuck in the middle of an intersection when the light turns red. This is called "blocking the box," and it can cause bad traffic jams. Cities use special cameras to take pictures of cars that do this so they can send the driver a ticket. The rule letting cities use these cameras was going to end in the year 2027. This bill changes the end date to the year 2030, giving cities three more years to keep using the cameras to help stop traffic jams.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

DriversPrivate traffic camera contractorsMunicipalitiesDepartment of TransportationLaw enforcement

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

There is a low constitutional risk. Automated traffic cameras sometimes face Due Process and Fourth Amendment challenges regarding surveillance and the presumption of guilt for the vehicle owner. However, this bill mitigates these risks by strictly limiting data usage, prohibiting the tracking of individuals, and requiring a judicial warrant before data can be shared. Similar automated enforcement systems have generally been upheld in court.

Estimated cost

Amount unknown

Estimated revenue

Amount unknown

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Improves community welfare and public transit efficiency by keeping intersections clear, which reduces traffic congestion and allows public buses and emergency vehicles to move freely.
Includes strong privacy protections by explicitly prohibiting the sale, sharing, or tracking of individuals' data and images without a judicial warrant, aligning with civil liberty priorities.
Ensures that private corporations operating the cameras are compensated based on equipment value rather than ticket revenue, removing a profit motive that often disproportionately targets lower-income drivers.
Extends a form of automated policing that can disproportionately burden low-income individuals who may struggle to pay automated traffic fines.
Continues to rely on punitive fines rather than systemic infrastructure or public transit improvements to solve traffic congestion issues.
Fails to mandate that the revenue collected from these automated tickets be redirected into community reinvestment or public transportation services for disadvantaged neighborhoods.

For Conservatives

Promotes the rule of law and order by ensuring traffic laws are strictly enforced, penalizing drivers who illegally block intersections.
Limits government overreach by imposing strict privacy restrictions on the collected data, requiring a judicial warrant before information can be shared with other government agencies.
Allows municipalities to contract with private corporations to provide and maintain the automated systems, supporting private business involvement in public infrastructure.
Extends the use of automated government surveillance cameras on public roads, which raises concerns about the infringement of personal freedoms and privacy.
Restricts private corporations' ability to maximize profits by prohibiting compensation based on the amount of ticket revenue generated by the systems.
Subjects municipalities and private contractors to burdensome state-level regulations and limits operational freedom by requiring approvals from the director of the state department of transportation.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

2 versions

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 24 additions · 6 deletions

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 31-41.2-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-41.2 entitled "Automated Traffic Violation Monitoring Systems" is hereby amended to read as follows: 31-41.2-3. ~~Automated traffic violation monitoring systems. [Effective until January~~ ~~15, 2027.]~~ Automated traffic violation monitoring systems. [Effective until January 15, 2030.]

(a) The state department of transportation and the municipalities of this state are hereby authorized to install and operate automated traffic violation detection systems. Such systems shall be limited to systems which monitor and detect violations of traffic control signals. For purposes of this chapter an automated traffic violation detection system means a system with one or more motor vehicle sensors which produces images of motor vehicles being operated in violation of traffic signal laws. A municipality shall be permitted to install, at up to no more than three (3) designated “Don’t Block the Box” intersections within the municipality, an automated traffic detection system to monitor violations of § 31-15-12.2; provided, however, that the provisions allowing such “Don’t Block the Box” monitoring shall sunset on January 15, ~~2027~~ 2030, at which time such use as provided in this section shall no longer be permitted.

(b) No automated traffic violation detection system shall be installed pursuant to this section which has not been approved for use by the director of the state department of transportation. The director of the state department of transportation shall promulgate regulations for the approval and operation of said systems pursuant to the administrative procedures act, chapter 35 of title 42. Systems shall be approved if the director is satisfied they meet standards of efficiency and accuracy. All systems installed for use under this chapter must be able to record the image of the vehicle and the license plates of the vehicle.

(c) In the event that the system is to be installed other than by the state department of transportation on state-maintained streets or roads, the director of the department of transportation must approve such installation.

(d) The state department of transportation and/or the municipalities may enter into an agreement with a private corporation or other entity to provide automated traffic violation detection systems or equipment and to maintain such systems.

(e) Compensation to a private entity that provides traffic signal monitoring devices shall be based on the value of such equipment and related support services, and shall not be based on the revenue generated by such systems.

(f) Use of the images or video captured by an automated traffic violation monitoring system shall be restricted to enforcement of the traffic violation and shall not be used to track individuals or vehicles for any purpose. All recorded images or video shall be destroyed or retained consistent with the provisions of § 31-41.2-8.

(g) Absent a judicial warrant, the images, recordings, metadata, license plate information, or other information collected by, or obtained from, an automated traffic violation monitoring system shall not be sold, shared, or transferred to any third parties, including other government agencies, by the department of transportation or municipalities except for enforcement of the traffic violation. 31-41.2-3. ~~Automated traffic violation monitoring systems. [Effective January 15,~~ ~~2027.]~~ Automated traffic violation monitoring systems. [Effective January 15, 2030.]

(a) ~~The~~ Effective January 15, 2030, the state department of transportation and the municipalities of this state are hereby authorized to install and operate automated traffic violation detection systems. Such systems shall be limited to systems which monitor and detect violations of traffic control signals. For purposes of this chapter an automated traffic violation detection system means a system with one or more motor vehicle sensors which produces images of motor vehicles being operated in violation of traffic signal laws.

(b) No automated traffic violation detection system shall be installed pursuant to this section which has not been approved for use by the director of the state department of transportation. The director of the state department of transportation shall promulgate regulations for the approval and operation of said systems pursuant to the administrative procedures act, chapter 35 of title 42. Systems shall be approved if the director is satisfied they meet standards of efficiency and accuracy. All systems installed for use under this chapter must be able to record the image of the vehicle and the license plates of the vehicle.

(c) In the event that the system is to be installed other than by the state department of transportation on state-maintained streets or roads, the director of the department of transportation must approve such installation.

(d) The state department of transportation and/or the municipalities may enter into an agreement with a private corporation or other entity to provide automated traffic violation detection systems or equipment and to maintain such systems.

(e) Compensation to a private entity that provides traffic signal monitoring devices shall be based on the value of such equipment and related support services, and shall not be based on the revenue generated by such systems.

(f) Use of the images or video captured by an automated traffic violation monitoring system shall be restricted to enforcement of the traffic violation and shall not be used to track individuals or vehicles for any purpose. All recorded images or video shall be destroyed or retained consistent with the provisions of § 31-41.2-8.

(g) Absent a judicial warrant, the images, recordings, metadata, license plate information, or other information collected by, or obtained from, an automated traffic violation monitoring system shall not be sold, shared, or transferred to any third parties, including other government agencies, by the department of transportation or municipalities except for enforcement of the traffic violation.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.