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S2942 • 2026
AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SUPER SPEEDER ACCOUNTABILITY ACT (Establishes the Super Speeder Accountability Act to be used as a sentencing option or enhancement for drivers charged with certain driving violations.)
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/31/2026)
Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SUPER SPEEDER ACCOUNTABILITY ACT (Establishes the Super Speeder Accountability Act to be used as a sentencing option or enhancement for drivers charged with certain driving violations.)
S2942 2026 -- S 2942 ======== LC004465 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SUPER SPEEDER ACCOUNTABILITY ACT Introduced By: Senators LaMountain, Burke, Dimitri, and Felag Date Introduced: March 04, 2026 Referred To: Senate Judiciary It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Legislative findings and purpose. 2 (1) It is the intent of the legislature to keep the public safe when on the road. Excessive 3 speeding is a leading cause of traffic fatalities and injuries. Nationwide, speed was a component in 4 twenty-nine percent (29%) of all crash fatalities in 2022. Speeding drivers negatively impact all 5 who use the road, including pedestrians, bikers, and other forms of transportation. The legislature 6 finds that solutions are needed to keep the public safe on the road and to change public behavior. 7 (2) Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) devices offer an improved solution to address 8 excessive speeding. Tools utilized to reduce speeding on roadways often include issuing traffic 9 fines, suspending licenses, and impounding cars, but these solutions are no longer effective to 10 address excessive, repeated speeding. Traffic fines do not substantially deter speeding or change 11 behavior, and most drivers with a suspended license continue to drive. According to the American 12 Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, more than seventy percent (70%) of people with 13 suspended licenses continue to drive during the suspension period. 14 (3) ISA technology enables individuals to continue driving, issues a meaningful penalty 15 and facilitates driver education and training to create safer driving habits. By leveraging technology 16 to enable individuals to continue driving, while preventing speeding, the legislature intends to 17 enhance road safety to promote safer driving habits and keep the public safe, all of which work to 18 directly address the issue of speeding on our roads 1 (4) The Legislature finds that utilizing ISA devices for high-risk drivers, particularly those 2 with repeated speed-related violations, can prevent recidivism and provide long term traffic safety 3 improvements. 4 SECTION 2. Title 31 of the General Laws entitled "MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES" 5 is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 6 CHAPTER 27.2 7 SUPER SPEEDER ACCOUNTABILITY ACT 8 31-27.2-1. Short title. 9 This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Super Speeder Accountability Act." 10 31-27.2-2. Definitions. 11 As used in this chapter: 12 (1) "Department" means the department of motor vehicles, which oversees drivers 13 licensing and license suspensions resulting from failure to pay fines or appear in traffic court. 14 (2) "Eligible offender" means a person whose license has been suspended due to a district 15 court conviction or administrative finding by the traffic tribunal of excessive speeding, racing, or 16 reckless driving where speed was a factor, or a person who has been convicted of multiple moving 17 offenses and is subject to the provisions of § 31-27-24. 18 (3) "Excessive speeding" means traveling at twenty miles per hour (20 mph) or greater in 19 excess of the posted speed limit, if the posted speed limit is forty miles per hour (40 mph) or less; 20 and thirty miles per hour (30 mph) or greater in excess of the posted speed limit, if the posted speed 21 limit is greater than forty miles per hour (40 mph). 22 (4) "Intelligent speed assistance device" or "ISA device" means an aftermarket device that 23 uses GPS to actively limit the vehicle's speed to posted or pre-set speed limits. Devices shall be 24 tamper resistant and capable of reporting attempts to disable or circumvent functionality. Active 25 "intelligent speed assistance device" shall not include any technology that is provided by the vehicle 26 manufacturer as a component of a new motor vehicle and that controls or affects the speed of a 27 motor vehicle. 28 (5) "Rhode Island traffic tribunal" means the court which has original jurisdiction over civil 29 traffic offenses committed in Rhode Island. 30 31-27.2-3. Mandatory use of ISA devices. 31 (a) The Rhode Island traffic tribunal or district court shall require installation and use of an 32 ISA device as a condition for license reinstatement for any eligible offender. 33 (1) If a person's license has been suspended pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, the 34 terms of restricted or revoked license reinstatement shall require the person to use a properly LC004465 - Page 2 of 6 1 functioning intelligent speed assistance device while operating a motor vehicle. 2 (2) If a person has been convicted of multiple moving offenses and is subject to the 3 provisions of § 31-27-34, the person shall be ordered to install an ISA device as a condition of 4 keeping operating privileges. 5 (3) A person subject to the requirements in subsection (a) of this section shall not operate 6 any motor vehicle without a properly functioning ISA device installed in the vehicle for the duration 7 of the restricted license. 8 (4) A person subject to the requirements in subsection (a) of this section shall provide proof 9 of ISA installation to the traffic tribunal through a form approved by the department from an ISA 10 vendor. 11 (b) The offender shall bear the cost of leasing, installing, removing and maintaining the 12 ISA device. 13 (c) The ISA device shall be operational on any vehicle the offender operates for a period 14 of not less than twelve (12) months following reinstatement. 15 31-27.2-4. Certification and installation. 16 (a) To be eligible to install, repair, maintain, monitor, or remove an intelligent speed 17 assistance device, an entity shall apply to the department and meet the requirements as provided in 18 this section. 19 (b) An applicant seeking approval to install the device shall submit a declaration to the 20 department that the device is an intelligent speed assistance device as defined in this chapter. 21 (c) To maintain eligibility under this section, a certified ISA or ignition interlock device 22 provider or installer shall submit the results of a criminal background check to the department 23 annually for any individual that is hired to install, repair, maintain, monitor, or remove the device. 24 (d) Only certified ISA devices and installers of ISA devices and ignition interlock devices 25 shall be used to meet the requirements of this chapter. 26 (e) The department shall adopt regulations governing the certification of ISA device 27 providers and installers. 28 31-27.2-5. Program administration. 29 The department shall establish procedures for issuing restricted licenses: 30 (1) Notifying offenders of ISA requirements; 31 (2) Verifying installation and continued functionality of ISA devices; and 32 (3) Monitoring compliance and responding to violations. 33 31-27.2-6. Penalties for noncompliance. 34 (a) A person who is restricted to the use of a vehicle equipped with an intelligent speed LC004465 - Page 3 of 6 1 assistance device is noncompliant if the restricted driver: 2 (1) Tampers with the device or any components of the device, or otherwise interferes with 3 the proper functionality of the device, by modifying, detaching, disconnecting, or otherwise 4 disabling it to allow the restricted driver to operate the vehicle; 5 (2) Has, directs, authorizes, or requests another person to tamper with the ISA device or 6 any components of the device, or otherwise interfere with the proper functionality of the device, by 7 modifying, detaching, disconnecting, or otherwise disabling it to allow the restricted driver to 8 operate the vehicle; 9 (3) Operates a vehicle without a required ISA device; or 10 (4) Fails to return the device to the vendor upon program completion. 11 (b) Penalties for noncompliance under this chapter shall be: 12 (1) Immediate re-suspension or revocation of driving privileges; and 13 (2) Extension of the ISA requirement for an additional six (6) months; 14 (c) If an individual is found to be noncompliant and chooses to instead cede all driving 15 privileges, the individual's license is suspended or revoked entirely and shall submit an affidavit of 16 nondriving to the department. 17 (d) Non-restricted license reinstatement shall not occur until the user has satisfied the 18 period of time required by the court or department to use the device without incurring additional 19 time penalties or has completed the required time utilizing the device following additional time 20 penalties. 21 31-27.2-7. Liability clarifications. 22 (a) A manufacturer, distributor or retailer of a motor vehicle shall not be liable for any loss, 23 injury, or damages caused by the design, manufacture, installation, improper installation, use, or 24 misuse of an aftermarket intelligent speed assistance device. Provided, however, liability does exist 25 if the manufacturer, distributor or retailer of a motor vehicle knowingly engages in a repair or 26 update to the aftermarket intelligent speed assistance device and such repair or update proximately 27 causes loss, injury or damage. 28 (b) Nothing in this chapter requires a manufacturer, distributor or retailer of a motor vehicle 29 to manufacture, distribute, or offer for sale a motor vehicle that includes or is compatible with an 30 aftermarket intelligent speed assistance device. 31 (c) Nothing in this chapter prohibits a lessor or lienholder from requiring that a motor 32 vehicle lessee or owner notify the lessor or lienholder that an aftermarket intelligent speed 33 assistance device has been installed on a motor vehicle that is subject to a lease or finance 34 agreement. LC004465 - Page 4 of 6 1 31-27.2-8. Data collection. 2 (a) All data collected pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be securely maintained 3 by the ISA device provider. Data related to violations involving tampering with, circumventing, or 4 removing the ISA device shall be sent by notice to the department or the judge who ordered the 5 installation of the device. 6 (b) Data collected pursuant to the provisions of this chapter may only be disclosed under 7 the following circumstances: 8 (1) When required by a court order; 9 (2) As directed by a state statute or regulation. 10 (3) With the department or provided to the traffic court in cases involving alleged violations 11 for tampering with, circumventing, or removing the device; or 12 (4) If the data is depersonalized and aggregated for research or evaluation purposes. 13 31-27.2-9. Reporting and evaluation. 14 (a) The department shall submit an annual report to the governor, speaker of the house and 15 the senate president summarizing program data, including recidivism rates, and user compliance. 16 (b) The department may adjust implementation based on findings and emerging best 17 practices in ISA technology. 18 31-27.2-10. Rulemaking authority. 19 The department is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to implement the 20 provisions of this chapter. 21 SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.. ======== LC004465 ======== LC004465 - Page 5 of 6 EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SUPER SPEEDER ACCOUNTABILITY ACT *** 1 This act would establish the Super Speeder Accountability Act to be used as a sentencing 2 option or enhancement for drivers charged with certain driving violations, including reckless 3 driving and multiple moving offenses, subject to the provisions of § 31-27-24. 4 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC004465 ======== LC004465 - Page 6 of 6