Rhode Island Senate Bill Would Allow Speed Cameras Statewide
Thursday, March 11, 2021
A group of Rhode Island lawmakers wants to allow the expanded use of speed cameras statewide.
This year, Senators James Seveney, Susan Sosnowski, Cynthia Coyne, Lou DiPalma, and Dawn Euer have introduced legislation that would authorize the use of automated traffic-speed camera-enforcement systems on all state and local roads within the state, not just in school zones.
“This proposed bill! Speed cameras all over the state!” Said Providence-based Uber driver Anthony Sionni, who runs the page “Stop Elorza’s Cash Cams.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn Providence, speed cameras have been defaced by graffiti — and increasing in numbers. The program faced numerous legal challenges -- and opposition.
Seveney told GoLocal that the bill was introduced to address speeding issues on Aquidneck Island, but acknowledged it is enabling legislation, which would mean any municipality could decide to implement speed cameras.
“Principally — I introduced it because we have a speed issue on East and West Main Roads, and police do not have enough resources for enforcement,” said Seveney. “On West Main Road, people regularly blow through a school zone, and East Main is a school bus route.”
Seveney said that town leaders have looked at a variety of options.
“Our plan was to put a road diet along East Main, and we did an analysis — but there’s too much traffic,” said Seveney, of the previous consideration of taking the current four lanes of traffic down to two with a middle turning lane.
“So I said maybe we’d try cameras to calm it. I’m working with RIDOT, and they have some issues. I haven’t asked for a hearing yet,” said Seveney.
About Legislation
The Senate bill would amend the “Rhode Island Automated School Zone Speed-Enforcement System Act of 2016,” striking language stipulating the cameras are authorized in school zones only — and expanding their use “on state and local roads.”
“The systems shall be used in conjunction with civil penalties imposed upon the owners of speeding vehicles in order to reduce speeding violations,” states the legislation.
The bill would allow for photos to be used in criminal and civil cases -- and addresses how long photos could be stored, and who can access them.
"Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the use of evidence produced by an automated school- zone-speed-enforcement system in a criminal or civil proceeding; provided, that the admissibility of such evidence shall follow the applicable laws and rules of procedure and rules of evidence which apply in criminal and civil proceedings," it states.
And under “Security of records,” it states “recorded images produced by an automated school-zone-speed-enforcement system shall not be deemed 'public records' subject to disclosure pursuant to § 38-2-2. All recorded images that do not identify a violation shall be destroyed within ninety days of the date the image was recorded, unless otherwise ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction."
“All recorded images that identify a violation shall be destroyed within one year after the citation is resolved by administrative payment, trial, or other final disposition of the citation, unless otherwise ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction,” it continues. “The privacy of records produced pursuant to this chapter shall be maintained; provided, that aggregate data not containing personal identifying information may be released.
“Everyone gets antsy when you talk speed cameras — someone stood up at a town hearing and said he was afraid the Chinese would get his information,” said Seveney.
“Depending on how things go with RIDOT I might not do the session,” he added.
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