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S 2974Bikes & Pedestrians

Motor and Other Vehicles - Right-of-Way

This bill changes the fine for failing to yield to pedestrians from a $75 limit to the state's standard traffic fine schedule.

Signed into law69 Yea0 Nay6 Not voting
Population
Affected
35
Email Legislator
Introduced Mar 4, 2026Committee Senate Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This legislation updates the penalties for drivers who violate right-of-way laws concerning pedestrians. Currently, the law sets a specific maximum fine of $75.00 for these violations. The bill removes this specific dollar amount limit and instead stipulates that violations will be subject to the standard schedule of fines listed in the Rhode Island General Laws (Section 31.41.1-4). This change effectively aligns the penalty for failing to yield to pedestrians with the broader, standardized system of traffic violation fines used by the state.

For younger readers

This law changes the rules for drivers who do not stop for people walking across the street. Right now, if a driver makes this mistake, the most they have to pay is $75. This new bill changes that. Instead of a specific $75 price, the driver will have to pay a fine based on a big list of rules the state uses for all traffic mistakes. This means the punishment will match other driving rules instead of having its own special, lower limit.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
MotoristsPedestriansLaw EnforcementTraffic CourtsInsurance Companies
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
None
Estimated revenue
Amount unknown

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Promotes community safety and walkability by potentially increasing the deterrent against drivers who endanger pedestrians, aligning with goals of creating safer, people-centered public spaces.
  • Standardizes penalties within the legal system, removing an outdated low-cost cap that may have trivialized the safety of pedestrians compared to other traffic violations.
  • May encourage drivers to be more attentive to vulnerable road users, potentially reducing accidents and injuries among those who rely on walking or public transit.
  • Increases reliance on monetary fines, which are regressive and disproportionately impact low-income individuals who may struggle to pay increased traffic tickets.
  • Relies on police enforcement for traffic safety, which could increase interactions between law enforcement and marginalized communities, raising concerns about potential bias in who gets stopped.
  • Focuses on punitive measures after a violation occurs rather than addressing systemic infrastructure issues that make streets dangerous for pedestrians in the first place.
For Conservatives
  • Reinforces the rule of law by ensuring that those who violate traffic statutes and endanger others are held accountable with standardized penalties.
  • Streamlines the judicial and administrative process by aligning this specific violation with the master schedule of fines, reducing bureaucratic complexity.
  • Emphasizes personal responsibility for drivers to obey established traffic laws regarding right-of-way.
  • Removes a statutory cap on fines, potentially allowing the government to impose higher costs on citizens for traffic infractions, which could be viewed as a revenue-generating measure.
  • Increases the regulatory burden on drivers, potentially subjecting them to fluctuating fine schedules rather than a fixed, known maximum penalty.
  • Could lead to over-policing of minor traffic infractions, infringing on the freedom of movement for motorists.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 2 additions · 2 deletions

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 31-17-5.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-17 entitled "Right-Of- Way" is hereby amended to read as follows: 31-17-5.1. Penalties. Any person who violates any provision of §§ 31-17-1 — 31-17-5, pertaining to the right- of-way of pedestrians, upon conviction, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than seventy- five ($75.00) subject to the fines enumerated in § 31.41.1-4.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.