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S 2969Roads & Highways

Motor and Other Vehicles - Use of Crosswalks, Intersections and Safety Zones

This bill bans asking for money or donations while in crosswalks or intersections, establishing fines and potential jail time.

Held for study
Population
Affected
15
Email Legislator
Introduced Mar 4, 2026Committee Senate Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This legislation creates a new law that prohibits individuals from soliciting money or donations while standing or sitting in a crosswalk, intersection, or safety zone on Rhode Island roads. The ban applies to all solicitations except for official toll collections. The bill establishes specific penalties for violations: a first offense carries a fine of up to $250 and community service; a second offense increases the fine to $500; and a third offense can result in up to one year of imprisonment. Judges are also given the discretion to order mental health counseling for offenders.

For younger readers

This new rule says that people are not allowed to stand or sit in the middle of the street, like where cars stop or people cross, to ask others for money. This is meant to keep everyone safe from traffic accidents. If someone breaks this rule, they might have to pay money to the court, do work to help the neighborhood, or even go to jail if they keep doing it. A judge can also tell the person that they need to talk to a counselor to get help with their problems.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Homeless individualsCommuters and DriversLaw EnforcementCharitable OrganizationsJudiciary
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

High risk

High Risk. The US Supreme Court and various federal courts have frequently struck down bans on panhandling in public spaces (such as Reed v. Town of Gilbert). By singling out "soliciting monetary or other donations" while permitting other types of speech or interaction in the same locations, the bill creates a content-based restriction on speech. This generally fails strict scrutiny unless the state can prove it is the least restrictive means to achieve a compelling interest.

Estimated cost
Amount unknown
Estimated revenue
Violators: Up to $250 (1st offense), Up to $500 (2nd offense)

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Includes provisions for judges to order mental health counseling, potentially addressing the root causes of why an individual is soliciting in traffic rather than solely punishing the behavior.
  • Aims to protect vulnerable individuals from physical harm by discouraging them from standing in dangerous roadway intersections and crosswalks where vehicle accidents occur.
  • Offers community service as an alternative or addition to fines for early offenses, which may be a more constructive approach than purely financial penalties for low-income individuals.
  • Criminalizes poverty by imposing fines and potential imprisonment on individuals who are likely soliciting donations due to financial desperation and lack of housing.
  • Imposes severe penalties, including up to one year of imprisonment for a third offense, which is a disproportionately harsh punishment for the non-violent act of asking for help.
  • Likely infringes upon First Amendment rights regarding free speech in public spaces, as courts have frequently struck down similar bans on panhandling as unconstitutional content-based restrictions.
For Conservatives
  • Enhances public safety and order by removing distractions and physical obstructions from roadways, ensuring that traffic flows smoothly and accidents are reduced.
  • Empowers law enforcement with clear authority to remove individuals who are loitering in intersections, addressing quality-of-life concerns for drivers and tax-paying residents.
  • Establishes strict consequences for repeat offenders, including potential jail time, enforcing the rule of law and discouraging the disregard of public safety statutes.
  • Expands government authority to mandate mental health counseling, which can be viewed as an overreach of judicial power into the personal health decisions of private citizens.
  • Creates a double standard by exempting government toll collection from the ban, allowing the state to solicit money in roadways while criminalizing private citizens for doing the same.
  • Increases the burden on the taxpayer-funded legal and prison systems by potentially incarcerating individuals for up to a year for minor non-violent offenses.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 20 additions

SECTION 1. Title 31 of the General Laws entitled "MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 31-18.1-1. Definitions. As used in this chapter:

(1) “Crosswalk” has the same meaning as set forth in § 31-1-25.

(2) “Intersection” has the same meaning as set forth in § 31-1-24.

(3) “Safety zone” has the same meaning as set forth in § 31-1-26. 31-18.1-2. Prohibiting solicitations in a crosswalk, intersection or safety zone.

(a) No individual shall solicit monetary or other donations, while standing or sitting at a crosswalk, intersection or safety zone within the state.

(b) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the collection of tolls on any municipal or state road or highway. 31-18.1-3. Penalties.

(a) Any individual who knowingly violates a provision of § 31-18.1-2 shall be penalized as follows:

(1) For a first violation, by a fine up to two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) and/or thirty

(30) hours of a community service program, related to state roads or highways;

(2) For a second violation, by a fine up to five hundred dollars ($500) and sixty (60) hours of a community service program related to state roads or highways; and

(3) For a third and subsequent violation, by imprisonment up to one year.

(b) A judge or magistrate may order, in the judge's or magistrate's discretion, mental health counseling or any other appropriate counseling to an individual who violates this chapter.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.