AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF LICENSES--VIOLATIONS (Amends the section of law relative to violations for driving after denial, revocation or suspension of a license and expands the list of offenses for which an unlicensed motorist would be in violation.)

S2482

2026 -- S 2482
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF
LICENSES--VIOLATIONS

Introduced By:
Senators Raptakis, Appollonio, Burke, Patalano, Urso, Thompson,
Murray, Famiglietti, and Ciccone

Date Introduced:
February 06, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 31-11-18.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-11 entitled
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"Suspension or Revocation of Licenses — Violations" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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31-11-18.1. Driving after denial, revocation, or suspension for certain violations.
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(a) Any person who drives a motor vehicle on any highway of this state who never applied
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for a license or who drives after his or her application for a license has been refused, or after his or
6
her license has expired or who otherwise drives without a license or at a time when his or her license
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to operate is suspended, revoked, or cancelled, for: (1) operating under the influence of a
narcotic
8
drug

controlled substance
or intoxicating liquor; (2)
refusing

refusal
to submit to a chemical test;
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(3)
reckless driving;
(3) manslaughter from the operation of a motor vehicle or

(4)
operating
a
10
motor vehicle
so as to endanger resulting in death;
or (4)

(5)
three (3) moving violations within a
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one-year period;
(6) having been designated a frequent offender pursuant to § 31-27-24; or (7)
12
violation of the terms of a conditional hardship order issued pursuant to chapter 27 of title 31;
shall
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be guilty of a misdemeanor for the first and second offenses and shall be deemed guilty of a felony
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for the third or subsequent offenses.
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(b) The division of motor vehicles upon receiving a record of the conviction of any person
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upon a charge of driving a motor vehicle while the license of the person was suspended, for reasons
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set forth in this section shall suspend the person’s license or deny the person’s application for any
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length of time that it shall deem proper but in no case less than an additional three (3) months. Upon

1
receiving a record of conviction of a second violation of driving a motor vehicle while the license
2
of that person was suspended for reasons set forth in this section, the division of motor vehicles
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shall suspend the person’s license or deny the person’s application for any length of time that it
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shall deem proper but in no case less than an additional six (6) months. Any subsequent conviction
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shall result in license revocation. Upon receiving a record of the conviction of any person upon a
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charge of driving after his or her application for a license had been refused, or after his or her license
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had been revoked or cancelled for reasons set forth in this section, the division of motor vehicles
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shall not issue a new license for an additional period of one year from and after the date the person
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would otherwise have been entitled to apply for a new license.
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(c)(1) Upon a first conviction under this section a mandatory fine of five hundred dollars
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($500) shall be imposed, and if the person was driving after his or her application for a license had
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been refused, or at a time when his or her license to operate was suspended, revoked, or cancelled
13
for operating under the influence of a controlled substance or intoxicating liquor
, or his or her

; (ii)

14
refusal to submit to a chemical test
,

; (iii)
reckless driving
, manslaughter from the operation of a
15
motor vehicle, or operation

;(iv) operating a motor vehicle
so as to endanger
, death
resulting
,

in
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death; (v) three (3) moving violations within a one-year period; (vi) having been designated a
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frequent offender pursuant to § 31-27-24; or (vii) violation of the terms of a conditional hardship
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order issued pursuant to chapter 27 of title 31
the person shall be imprisoned for a minimum of ten
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(10) days.
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(2) A mandatory fine of five hundred dollars ($500) for a second conviction under this
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section within a five (5) year period shall be imposed, and if the person was driving after his or her
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application for a license had been refused, or at a time when his or her license to operate was
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suspended, revoked, or cancelled for
:(i)
operating under the influence of a controlled substance or
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intoxicating liquor
or his or her

; (ii)
refusal to submit to a chemical test
,

; (iii)
reckless driving
,
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manslaughter from the operation of a motor vehicle, or operation

; (iv) operating a motor vehicle

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so as to endanger,
death
resulting
in death; (v) three (3) moving violations within a one-year period;
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(vi) having been designated a frequent offender pursuant to § 31-27-24; or (vii) violation of the
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terms of a conditional hardship order issued pursuant to chapter 27 of title 31
the person shall be
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imprisoned for a minimum of six (6) months to one year.
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(3) For any subsequent conviction within a five (5) year period, a fine of one thousand
31
dollars ($1,000) shall be imposed and the person may be imprisoned for up to one year or be
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required to participate in a public service program designated and approved by the court. If the
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person was driving after his or her application for a license had been refused or at a time when his
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or her license to operate was suspended, revoked, or cancelled for: (i) operating under the influence

LC003463 - Page 2 of 4
1
of a controlled substance or intoxicating liquor; (ii)
his or her
refusal to submit to a chemical test;
2
(iii) reckless driving; (iv)
manslaughter from the operation of a motor vehicle; or (v)
operating
a
3
motor vehicle
so as to endanger,
death
resulting
in death
;
(v) three (3) moving violations within a
4
one-year period; (vi) having been designated a frequent offender pursuant to § 31-27-24; or (vii)
5
violation of the terms of a conditional hardship order issued pursuant to chapter 27 of title 31
the
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person shall be imprisoned for a minimum of one year. Jurisdiction for violations of this section is
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given to the district court and the court shall have full authority to impose any sentence authorized
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for violations of this section.
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(d) No fines, suspensions, treatment, or jail provided for under this section can be
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suspended.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF
LICENSES--VIOLATIONS
***
1
This act would amend the section of law relative to violations for driving after denial,
2
revocation or suspension of a license and would expand the list of offenses for which an unlicensed
3
motorist would be in violation.
4
This act would take effect upon passage.
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