(a)  Whenever the department of transportation or local governing unit with jurisdiction over the highways determines that the preexisting established speed limit through a highway construction or maintenance operation is greater than is reasonable or safe with respect to the conditions expected to exist in that operation, it may, on highways under its respective jurisdiction, determine and declare reasonable and safe absolute maximum temporary speed limits applicable through all or part of the operation. A temporary speed limit so determined and declared shall become effective and shall suspend the applicability of any other speed limit prescribed in this chapter when appropriate signs of the design prescribed by the department giving notice of the limits are erected at or along the operation. When these signs are erected, the total of fines, penalties, and costs assessed upon conviction shall be twice the amount otherwise set by the general laws.

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 31-14-12.1

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.

(b)  When street, highway or bridge construction, or a maintenance operation is present, the department of transportation or local governing unit with jurisdiction over the street or highway shall erect signs declaring that the fine for a conviction of a traffic violation, as defined by § 31-41.1-4, through the “temporary traffic control zone” shall be doubled. When these signs are erected, the total of the fines, penalties, and costs assessed upon conviction shall be twice the amount otherwise set by the general laws. The prescribed legend for the signs shall be established by the department of transportation.

(c)  For the purposes of this section, “temporary traffic control zone” means that portion of a bridge, street, or highway that is identified by official traffic-control devices. The zone includes the entire section of roadway between the first advance warning sign through the last traffic control device, where traffic returns to its normal path and conditions. This zone shall exist throughout the duration of the construction or maintenance operation or as long as the signs remain.

History of Section.
P.L. 1996, ch. 206, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 98, § 14; P.L. 2008, ch. 145, § 14.