H 7437

2026 -- H 7437 AS AMENDED
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LC004258
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  STATE  OF        RHODE  ISLAND
  IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
  ____________
  AN ACT
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- AUTOMATED TRAFFIC VIOLATION
  MONETARY SYSTEMS
  Introduced By: Representative Scott Slater
  Date Introduced: January 30, 2026
  Referred To: House Judiciary
  (City of Providence)
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1SECTION 1. Section 31-41.2-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-41.2 entitled
2 "Automated Traffic Violation Monitoring Systems" is hereby amended to read as follows:
331-41.2-3. Automated traffic violation monitoring systems. [Effective until January
4 15, 2027.] Automated traffic violation monitoring systems. [Effective until January 15, 2030.]
5(a) The state department of transportation and the municipalities of this state are hereby
6 authorized to install and operate automated traffic violation detection systems. Such systems shall
7 be limited to systems which monitor and detect violations of traffic control signals. For purposes
8 of this chapter an automated traffic violation detection system means a system with one or more
9 motor vehicle sensors which produces images of motor vehicles being operated in violation of
10 traffic signal laws. A municipality shall be permitted to install, at up to no more than three (3)
11 designated “Don’t Block the Box” intersections within the municipality, an automated traffic
12 detection system to monitor violations of § 31-15-12.2; provided, however, that the provisions
13 allowing such “Don’t Block the Box” monitoring shall sunset on January 15, 2027 2030, at which
14 time such use as provided in this section shall no longer be permitted.
15(b) No automated traffic violation detection system shall be installed pursuant to this
16 section which has not been approved for use by the director of the state department of
17 transportation. The director of the state department of transportation shall promulgate regulations
18 for the approval and operation of said systems pursuant to the administrative procedures act, chapter
1 35 of title 42. Systems shall be approved if the director is satisfied they meet standards of efficiency
2 and accuracy. All systems installed for use under this chapter must be able to record the image of
3 the vehicle and the license plates of the vehicle.
4(c) In the event that the system is to be installed other than by the state department of
5 transportation on state-maintained streets or roads, the director of the department of transportation
6 must approve such installation.
7(d) The state department of transportation and/or the municipalities may enter into an
8 agreement with a private corporation or other entity to provide automated traffic violation detection
9 systems or equipment and to maintain such systems.
10(e) Compensation to a private entity that provides traffic signal monitoring devices shall
11 be based on the value of such equipment and related support services, and shall not be based on the
12 revenue generated by such systems.
13(f) Use of the images or video captured by an automated traffic violation monitoring system
14 shall be restricted to enforcement of the traffic violation and shall not be used to track individuals
15 or vehicles for any purpose. All recorded images or video shall be destroyed or retained consistent
16 with the provisions of § 31-41.2-8.
17(g) Absent a judicial warrant, the images, recordings, metadata, license plate information,
18 or other information collected by, or obtained from, an automated traffic violation monitoring
19 system shall not be sold, shared, or transferred to any third parties, including other government
20 agencies, by the department of transportation or municipalities except for enforcement of the traffic
21 violation.
2231-41.2-3. Automated traffic violation monitoring systems. [Effective January 15,
23 2027.] Automated traffic violation monitoring systems. [Effective January 15, 2030.]
24(a) The Effective January 15, 2030, the state department of transportation and the
25 municipalities of this state are hereby authorized to install and operate automated traffic violation
26 detection systems. Such systems shall be limited to systems which monitor and detect violations of
27 traffic control signals. For purposes of this chapter an automated traffic violation detection system
28 means a system with one or more motor vehicle sensors which produces images of motor vehicles
29 being operated in violation of traffic signal laws.
30(b) No automated traffic violation detection system shall be installed pursuant to this
31 section which has not been approved for use by the director of the state department of
32 transportation. The director of the state department of transportation shall promulgate regulations
33 for the approval and operation of said systems pursuant to the administrative procedures act, chapter
34 35 of title 42. Systems shall be approved if the director is satisfied they meet standards of efficiency
  LC004258 - Page 2 of 4
1 and accuracy. All systems installed for use under this chapter must be able to record the image of
2 the vehicle and the license plates of the vehicle.
3(c) In the event that the system is to be installed other than by the state department of
4 transportation on state-maintained streets or roads, the director of the department of transportation
5 must approve such installation.
6(d) The state department of transportation and/or the municipalities may enter into an
7 agreement with a private corporation or other entity to provide automated traffic violation detection
8 systems or equipment and to maintain such systems.
9(e) Compensation to a private entity that provides traffic signal monitoring devices shall
10 be based on the value of such equipment and related support services, and shall not be based on the
11 revenue generated by such systems.
12(f) Use of the images or video captured by an automated traffic violation monitoring system
13 shall be restricted to enforcement of the traffic violation and shall not be used to track individuals
14 or vehicles for any purpose. All recorded images or video shall be destroyed or retained consistent
15 with the provisions of § 31-41.2-8.
16(g) Absent a judicial warrant, the images, recordings, metadata, license plate information,
17 or other information collected by, or obtained from, an automated traffic violation monitoring
18 system shall not be sold, shared, or transferred to any third parties, including other government
19 agencies, by the department of transportation or municipalities except for enforcement of the traffic
20 violation.
21SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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  EXPLANATION
  BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
  OF
  AN ACT
    RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- AUTOMATED TRAFFIC VIOLATION
  MONETARY SYSTEMS
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1This act would extend the sunsetting of the "Don't Block the Box" automated traffic
2 detection systems from January 15, 2027, to January 15, 2030.
3This act would take effect upon passage.
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