AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- LIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND REFLECTORS (Adds vehicles owned by the Rhode Island Disaster Medical Assistance Team, Inc. to the vehicles to be equipped with flashing lights.)

H7790

2026 -- H 7790
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LC003583
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- LIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND
REFLECTORS

Introduced By:
Representative Sherry Roberts

Date Introduced:
February 12, 2026

Referred To:
House State Government & Elections
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 31-24-31 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-24 entitled "Lighting
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Equipment and Reflectors" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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31-24-31. Flashing lights — Forward viewing or rotary beam lights.
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(a) Flashing lights are prohibited, except on an authorized emergency vehicle, school bus,
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snow-removal equipment, or on any vehicle as a means for indicating a right or left turn. However,
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the requirements of § 31-24-33 shall be deemed to be satisfied if the vehicle is equipped with lamps
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at the front mounted at the same level, displaying simultaneously flashing white or amber lights,
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and at the rear mounted at the same level, and displaying simultaneously flashing red lights, all of
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which lights shall be visible from a distance of not less than five hundred feet (500′).
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(b) Forward viewing or rotating beam lights may be installed on and shall be restricted to
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the following categories of vehicles, and these lights shall be of color designated:
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(1) Emergency response vehicles of any fire, rescue, or ambulance department, fire chiefs,
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assistant fire chiefs, deputy chiefs, captains; any privately owned vehicle of any authorized
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volunteer member of a fire, rescue, or ambulance department; emergency management agency
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directors, assistant directors, assistant medical examiners and/or forensic pathologists of the office
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of state medical examiners; rescue vehicles, emergency response vehicles of the department of
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environmental management and the office of the state fire marshal;
vehicles owned by the Rhode
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Island Disaster Medical Assistance Team, Inc.;
school buses; hospital emergency response

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vehicles; and two (2) American Red Cross disaster vehicles: Red, white and/or alternating flashing
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white;
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(2) Wrecker trucks, service station trucks, state and town safety and maintenance vehicles;
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snowplows and tractors; light company trucks, telephone company trucks, water company trucks,
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oil company trucks, and other utilities’ trucks; vehicles of television, radio and press photographers;
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newspaper motor route carriers; rural mail carriers; all motor-propelled vehicles owned by the
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Northern Rhode Island REACT (radio emergency associated citizens team); all motor-propelled
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vehicles owned by or under contract to the Rhode Island department of transportation when on
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official state business; and vehicles marking the beginning and end of funeral processions: Amber,
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provided, however, that wrecker and transportation vehicles operated pursuant to a public utilities
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commission license, and roadside assistance vehicles of any type operated for that purpose by the
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American Automobile Association shall be permitted to use flashing amber lights at the front and
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rear of the vehicle, to be activated only in the course of providing assistance to or transportation for
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a disabled vehicle. A fee of twenty-five dollars ($25) shall be charged for the issuance of a flashing
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lights permit to every vehicle identified in this subsection, with the exception of flashing lights
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permits issued to state, town or fire district safety and maintenance vehicles, which shall not be
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charged a fee.
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(3) Police units, state and local: Center rotating beam lights: Blue or red; Outboard mounted
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lights: Blue or red.
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(4) Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC003583
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- LIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND
REFLECTORS
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This act would add vehicles owned by the Rhode Island Disaster Medical Assistance Team,
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Inc. to the vehicles to be equipped with flashing lights.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC003583
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LC003583 - Page 3 of 3