The text
Footnotes:
--- (2) --- State Law reference— Establishment of fines for violation of traffic ordinances, and procedure for payment of fines, G.L. 1956, § 12-14-6.
Sec. 76-41. - Notice of nonmoving violation.#
Notice of nonmoving traffic violations shall be fixed to the motor vehicle causing such violation and such notice shall state the specific violation charged, the schedules of fines for such violation, the time within which the privilege of paying such fine by mail may be exercised and the place to which such fine may be mailed.
(Code 1971, § 22-32)
Sec. 76-42. - Obedience to traffic control devices.#
The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic control device applicable thereto placed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, unless otherwise directed by a traffic or police officer, subject to the exceptions granted the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle in this chapter.
(Code 1971, § 22-38)
Sec. 76-43. - Signs required to be erected for enforcement of certain provisions.#
No provision of this chapter for which signs are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator if at the time and place of the alleged violation an official sign is not in proper position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person. Whenever a particular section does not state that signs are required, such section shall be effective even though no signs are erected or in place.
(Code 1971, § 22-39)
Sec. 76-44. - Meaning of traffic lights.#
Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic control signals exhibiting the word "go," "caution," or "stop," or exhibiting different colored lights successively one at a time, or with arrows, the following colors only shall be used and such terms and lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows: (1)
Green alone or "go."
a.
Vehicular traffic facing the signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn, but vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time such signal is exhibited.
b.
Pedestrians facing the signal may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.
(2)
Yellow alone or "caution" when shown following green or "go" signal.
a.
Vehicular traffic facing the signal shall stop before entering. A red or "stop" signal will be exhibited immediately thereafter and such vehicular traffic shall not enter or be crossing the intersection when the red or "stop" signal is exhibited.
b.
Pedestrians facing such signal are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway, and any pedestrian then starting to cross shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles.
(3)
Red alone or "stop."
a.
Vehicular traffic facing the signal shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain standing until the green or "go" signal is shown alone, and shall not prior to reaching such intersection make any turn over or through private property in order to avoid such signal; provided, however, a righthand turn shall be permitted after vehicular traffic reaches a complete stop at intersections when safety would permit such a turn and no sign forbids it.
b.
No pedestrian facing such signal shall enter the roadway unless he/she can do so safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic.
(Code 1971, § 22-40)
Sec. 76-45. - Signals at places other than intersections.#
In the event an official traffic control signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of section 76-44 shall be applicable except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application. Any stop required shall be made at a sign or marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made, but in the absence of any such sign or marking the stop shall be made at the signal.
(Code 1971, § 22-41)
Sec. 76-46. - Pedestrian control signals.#
Whenever special pedestrian control signals exhibiting the words "walk" or "wait" or "don't walk" are in place, such signals shall indicate as follows: (1)
Walk signal. Pedestrians facing such signal may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal and shall be given the right-of-way by the drivers of all vehicles.
(2)
Wait or don't walk signal. No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of such signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed his/her crossing on the walk signal shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety island while the wait or don't walk signal is showing.
(Code 1971, § 22-42)
Sec. 76-47. - Flashing signals.#
Whenever an illuminated flashing red or yellow signal is used in a traffic sign or signal, it shall require obedience by vehicular traffic as follows: (1)
Flashing red (stop signal). When a red lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection or at a limit line when marked, or, if not, then before entering the intersection, and the right to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.
(2)
Flashing yellow (caution signal). When a yellow lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles may proceed through the intersection or past such signal only with caution.
(3)
Flashing green (pedestrian signal). When a green lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles may proceed through the intersection or crosswalk past such a signal only with caution.
(Code 1971, § 22-43)
Sec. 76-48. - Unauthorized signs and devices.#
(a)
No person shall place, maintain or display upon or in view of any highway any unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic control device or railroad sign or signal, or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic, or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal, and no person shall place or maintain upon any highway any traffic sign without the consent of the chief of police. This shall not be deemed to prohibit the erection upon private property adjacent to highways of signs giving useful directional information and of a type that cannot be mistaken for official signs.
(b)
Every such prohibited sign, signal or marking is hereby declared to be a public nuisance, and the authority having jurisdiction over the highway is hereby empowered to remove the same or cause it to be removed without notice.
(Code 1971, § 22-44)
Sec. 76-49. - Injury to signs and devices.#
No person shall without lawful authority attempt to or in fact alter, deface, injure, knock down or remove any official traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal or any inscription, shield or insignia thereon, or any other part thereof, or attach signs of any kind or description to any traffic sign or device of any kind or description or to their standards.
(Code 1971, § 22-45)
Sec. 76-50. - Applicability of regulations to pedestrians.#
Pedestrians shall be subject to traffic control signals at intersections as provided in section 76-46 and section 76-47, unless required by local ordinance to comply strictly with such signals, but at all other places pedestrians shall be accorded the privileges and shall be subject to the restrictions stated in this chapter.
(Code 1971, § 22-46)
Sec. 76-51. - Pedestrians crossing at point other than crosswalk.#
Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.
(Code 1971, § 22-47)
Sec. 76-52. - Pedestrians crossing where tunnel or overhead crossing is provided.#
Any pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.
(Code 1971, § 22-48)
Sec. 76-53. - Pedestrians crossing between intersections.#
Between adjacent intersections at which traffic control signals are in operation pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a marked crosswalk.
(Code 1971, § 22-49)
Sec. 76-54. - Pedestrians to use right half of crosswalks.#
Pedestrians shall move, whenever practicable, upon the right half of crosswalks.
(Code 1971, § 22-50)
Sec. 76-55. - Walking in street prohibited where sidewalks are provided.#
Where sidewalks are provided, it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway.
(Code 1971, § 22-51)
State Law reference— Similar provisions, G.L. 1956, § 31-18-10.
Sec. 76-56. - Pedestrians to walk on left side of roadway.#
Where sidewalks are not provided, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall, when practicable, walk only on the left side of the roadway or its shoulder, facing traffic which may approach from the opposite direction.
(Code 1971, § 22-52)
Sec. 76-57. - Hitchhiking in roadway.#
No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride from the driver of any vehicle.
(Code 1971, § 22-53)
Sec. 76-58. - Display of registration plates.#
(a)
Required. Registration plates issued for a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, trailer, transporter vehicle, or in-transit vehicle, or a bailee engaged in a business as defined in subsection (d) below, or other than a motor vehicle owned by a duly authorized dealer in motor vehicles and which is used in such dealer's business, shall be attached thereto one in the front and the other in the rear. The registration plate issued for a motorcycle, trailer, bailee or dealer's motor vehicle, as herein defined, shall be attached to the rear thereof.
(b)
Attachment; visibility. Every registration plate shall at all times be securely fastened in a horizontal position to the vehicle for which it is issued so as to prevent the plate from swinging, at a height of not less than 12 inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom of such plate, in a place and position so as to be clearly visible, and shall be maintained free from foreign materials and in a condition to be clearly legible.
(c)
Penalty. Any person who shall violate the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a violation and shall be subject to a fine of $15.00.
(d)
"Bailee" defined. A bailee is one to whom possession of personal property has been entrusted by the bailor for a specific purpose resulting from either an express or implied contract, with the understanding that such personal property shall be returned to the bailor or any person designated by the bailor when the terms and purposes of the contract have been accomplished.
(Code 1971, § 22-55)
Sec. 76-59. - Authority to inspect vehicles.#
The director of the department of transportation, members of the state and local police and such other officers and employees of the registry of motor vehicles as the director of the department of transportation may designate may at any time require the seller at retail or driver of such vehicle to stop and submit such vehicle to an inspection and such test with reference thereto as may be appropriate.
(Code 1971, § 22-56)
Sec. 76-60. - Vehicle inspections generally.#
(a)
No seller at retail or person driving a vehicle shall refuse to submit such vehicle to an inspection and test as required by section 76-59.
(b)
Every seller at retail, owner or driver, upon receiving a notice as provided in section 76-59, shall comply therewith and shall within five days forward the approved notice to the department of transportation. In the event of noncompliance with this subsection, the vehicle shall not be operated on any highways of this state.
(c)
Any vehicle which is found to be in such unsafe condition as to brakes, steering or other equipment as to be hazardous to permit it to be sold or driven from the place of inspection shall not be permitted to be operated under its own power, and the registration shall be immediately suspended by the department of transportation and the plates and certificates returned to the department of transportation forthwith.
(d)
In the event repair or adjustment of any vehicle or its equipment is found necessary upon inspection, the seller at retail or owner of such vehicle may obtain such repair or adjustment at any place he/she may choose, but in every event an approval shall be obtained; otherwise, the vehicle shall not be operated upon the highways of the state.
(e)
Every motorcycle, motor scooter or motor-driven cycle shall be inspected in accordance with the law of the state and shall display a certificate of inspection as is provided by laws of the state. Inspection standards for such motor vehicles shall be established by the registrar. Such inspection stations shall be specially licensed to inspect motorcycles, motor scooters and motor-driven cycles. Certificates of inspection for such vehicles shall be clearly distinguishable from those issued to other motor vehicles.
(Code 1971, §§ 22-57, 22-61)
Sec. 76-61. - Solicitation on roadway prohibited.#
No person shall distribute literature to, request donations from, or in any other manner perform acts of solicitation of any type directed at the operator or any passenger of any motor vehicle in a travel lane, including motor vehicles stopped at intersections or in obedience to any traffic control device, on any public street or highways within the state.
(Code 1971, § 22-58)
Cross reference— Businesses, ch. 10.
Sec. 76-62. - Prevention of excessive fumes or smoke.#
The engine and power mechanism of every motor vehicle shall be so equipped and adjusted as to prevent the escape of excessive fumes or smoke.
(Code 1971, § 22-60)