R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-45 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-47 / Section 11-47-45
§ 11-47-45. Arrest and detention for possession of weapon prohibited by § 11-47-42.
Status: in_force

Every officer authorized to make an arrest for any criminal offense may arrest without complaint and warrant any person who has in his or her possession any instrument or weapon described in § 11-47-42 whenever the officer has reasonable ground to suspect that the person possesses, or is using, wearing or carrying the instrument or weapon contrary to law. Any person so arrested may be detained a reasonable time, not exceeding twenty-four (24) hours, for the purpose of making an investigation concerning the person, but no person so arrested shall be detained longer than twenty-four (24) hours without complaint being made against him or her before some proper court or justice. If the officer making the arrest shall at any time within the twenty-four (24) hours satisfy himself or herself that there is no ground for making a criminal complaint against the person, he or she shall be discharged from custody.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37-8.6 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-37 / Section 11-37-8.6
§ 11-37-8.6. Special assessment  Payment for treatment or counseling.
Status: in_force

In addition to all other statutory costs and assessments, every person, adjudged guilty of the provisions of § 11-37-8.1 or 11-37-8.3, whether by trial, plea of guilty or plea of nolo contendere, shall pay a special assessment of one hundred dollars ($100). In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person convicted under §§ 11-37-8.1  11-37-8.3 may be required, as part of the sentence imposed by the court, to pay the cost of any necessary medical, psychological, or psychiatric treatment of the child resulting from the act or acts for which the defendant is convicted.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-44-29 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-44 / Section 11-44-29
§ 11-44-29. Willful breaking of glass.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall willfully break glass on any public highway, public property, or public building within this state shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-23-6 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-23 / Section 11-23-6
§ 11-23-6. Controlled substance transaction resulting in death of minor.
Status: in_force

Any person who sells, delivers, or distributes a controlled substance, the sale of which would constitute a felony under chapter 28 of title 21, to a minor, or knowingly provides a controlled substance for sale, delivery, or distribution to a minor, and death has resulted to the minor because of the ingestion orally or the injection or inhalation of the controlled substance, shall be imprisoned for life.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-25-20 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-25 / Section 11-25-20
§ 11-25-20. Habeas corpus for production of prisoner.
Status: in_force

Whenever a writ of habeas corpus shall issue from either the supreme or superior court for the production and appearance before it of a prisoner confined in the adult correctional institutions, the writ shall be delivered to the division of sheriffs. Whenever the writ is issued from any other court, it shall be delivered to the division of sheriffs or to any town sergeant or chief of police or police constable, who shall duly present it to the director of corrections of the institutions. The director of corrections shall upon receipt of the writ deliver the prisoner to the custody of the officer. The officer shall take and receive the prisoner into his or her custody, shall duly present the prisoner before the court pursuant to the command of the writ, and shall keep and hold the prisoner until by order of the court he or she shall be recommitted to the institutions or otherwise disposed of. Upon the delivery of the custody of the prisoner by the director of corrections to the officer, the director of corrections shall endorse the delivery upon the writ, and the officer shall receipt on the books of the institutions for custody. The officer, upon the production of the prisoner in court, shall further endorse that fact on the writ and deliver it to the clerk or (if there is no clerk) the presiding justice; but shall, as an officer of the court, maintain safe custody of the prisoner until he or she is, by further order, recommitted or discharged.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-31-10 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-31 / Section 11-31-10
§ 11-31-10. Sale or exhibition to minors of indecent publications, pictures, or articles.
Status: in_force

(a) Every person who shall willfully or knowingly engage in the business of selling, lending, giving away, showing, advertising for sale, or distributing to any person under the age of eighteen (18) years, has in their possession with intent to engage in that business or to otherwise offer for sale or commercial distribution to any person under the age of eighteen (18) years, or who shall display at newsstands or any other business establishment frequented by persons under the age of eighteen (18) years or where persons under the age of eighteen (18) years are or may be invited as a part of the general public, any motion picture, any still picture, photograph, or any book, pocket book, pamphlet, or magazine of which the cover or content consists of explicit representations of sexual conduct, sexual excitement, nudity and which is indecent for minors or which is predominantly made up of descriptions of sexual conduct, sexual excitement, nudity and which is indecent, shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment for not more than two (2) years, or both.

(b) As used in this section, the following words have the following meaning:

(1) Indecent for minors means:

(i) Appealing to the prurient interest in sex of minors;

(ii) Taken as a whole is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community with respect to what is suitable material for minors; and

(iii) Clearly lacking serious literary, artistic, educational, political, or scientific value for minors;

(2) Knowingly means having knowledge of the character and content of the publication or failure on notice to exercise reasonable inspection which would disclose its content and character;

(3) Nudity means less than completely and opaquely covered; human genitals, pubic regions, buttock, and female breast below a point immediately above the top of the areola;

(4) Sexual conduct means act of human masturbation, sexual intercourse, sodomy, fondling, or other erotic touching of human genitals, pubic region, buttock, or female breasts; and

(5) Sexual excitement means human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-28 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-47 / Section 11-47-28
§ 11-47-28. Arrest and detention for possession of firearms.
Status: in_force

Every officer authorized to make an arrest may, without complaint and warrant, arrest any person who has in his or her possession any firearm whenever the officer has reasonable ground to suspect that the person possesses or is using or is carrying the firearm contrary to law. Any person so arrested may be detained a reasonable time, not exceeding twenty-four (24) hours, for the purpose of making an investigation concerning the person, but no person so arrested shall be detained longer than twenty-four (24) hours without complaint being made against him or her before some proper court or justice. If the officer making the arrest shall at any time within the twenty-four (24) hours satisfy himself or herself that there is no ground for making a criminal complaint against the person, he or she shall be discharged from custody.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-50-6 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-50 / Section 11-50-6
§ 11-50-6. Deceptive advertising practices.
Status: in_force

Every person, firm, or corporation who prints, publishes, or circulates literature or advertising material, used in connection with any promotion or advertising scheme or plan of the type set forth in § 11-50-1, which is false, deceptive, or misleading, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-36-5 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-36 / Section 11-36-5
§ 11-36-5. Loitering on railroad or bus line property.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall loiter or remain about or in any station house of any railroad corporation or the station house or terminal of any bus line or bus company or upon the platforms, tracks, or grounds of any company or corporation, adjoining any station or terminal, after being requested to leave by any officer or agent of the company operating or using the facilities, shall be fined not less than five dollars ($5.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-51 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-47 / Section 11-47-51
§ 11-47-51. Loaded rifles and shotguns in vehicles and roadways.
Status: repealed

(a) It is unlawful for any person to have in their possession a loaded rifle or loaded shotgun or a rifle or shotgun from the magazine of which all shells and cartridges have not been removed while upon or along any public highway, road, lane, or trail within this state; provided, that the provisions of this section shall not apply to deputy sheriffs, the superintendent and members of the state police, prison or jail wardens or their deputies, members of the city or town police force, investigators of the department of attorney general appointed pursuant to § 42-9-8.1, the director, assistant director and other inspectors and agents at the Rhode Island state fugitive task force appointed pursuant to § 12-6-7.2 [repealed], nor to other duly appointed law enforcement officers, including conservation officers, nor to members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, or Marine Corps of the United States, or the National Guard or organized reserves, when on duty, nor to officers or employees of the United States authorized by law to carry a concealed firearm, nor to any civilian guard or criminal investigator carrying sidearms or a concealed firearm in the performance of their official duties under the authority of the commanding officer of the military establishment in the state of Rhode Island where the person is employed by the United States; nor to persons legally engaged in hunting activity pursuant to the provisions of chapter 13 or 18 of title 20.

(b) Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this section shall be punished by imprisonment of not more than five (5) years, or by a fine of up to five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-15.1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-47 / Section 11-47-15.1
§ 11-47-15.1. Qualifications required of law enforcement officers appointed after June 6, 1970.
Status: in_force

(a) Except as provided in § 11-47-15.3, all law enforcement officers of this state and its political subdivisions whose permanent appointment shall take place later than June 6, 1970, shall qualify on the official National Rifle Association B-21 police combat target firing a score of one hundred sixty-five (165) or better out of a possible score of two hundred fifty (250) with fifty (50) rounds in the distance, time period, and position required in the course:

(1) Stage A: Seven (7) yards, ten (10) shots crouch position, time twenty-five (25) seconds.

(2) Stage B: twelve (12) yards, five (5) shots point shoulder left hand, five (5) shots point shoulder right hand, both unsupported, and five (5) shots kneeling, time seventy-five (75) seconds.

(3) Stage C: twenty-one (21) yards, five (5) shots point shoulder left hand supported, five (5) shots point shoulder right hand supported, time forty-five (45) seconds.

(4) Stage D: twenty-five (25) yards, five (5) shots prone, five (5) shots left hand barricade, five (5) shots right hand barricade, time one minute forty-five (1:45) seconds.

(b) All stages are started with the weapon loaded with 5 rounds and holstered.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-13.1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-9 / Section 11-9-13.1
§ 11-9-13.1. Cigarette and tobacco vending machines.
Status: in_force

(a) No cigarettes, nor any other tobacco product, nor electronic nicotine-delivery system product shall be sold from any device or vending machine that is in an area not continuously supervised and in direct line of sight of an authorized person employed by the person, firm, or corporation that owns the business occupying the premises in which the device or vending machine is located, nor shall any tobacco product, nor electronic nicotine-delivery system product be sold from any device or vending machine that is in an area supervised by such an authorized person unless the device or vending machine is equipped with an electronic locking device that will not allow the device or vending machine to dispense a pack of cigarettes, or any other tobacco product, or electronic nicotine-delivery system product unless it is electronically unlocked from a secured position inaccessible to the public and under the supervision of an authorized person employed by the person, firm, or corporation that owns the business occupying the premises in which the device or vending machine is located. Direct line of sight means that the vending machine and the purchaser of cigarettes or electronic nicotine-delivery system product must be visible to the authorized person pressing the unlock button while the unlock button is being activated. Provided, a locking device shall not be required in an establishment licensed to sell alcoholic beverages that limits access to persons over the age of twenty-one (21) years.

(b) No cigarettes, nor any other tobacco product, nor electronic nicotine-delivery system product shall be sold from any device or vending machine from which non-tobacco products are sold.

(c) No cigarettes shall be sold in packs that contain less than twenty (20) cigarettes.

(d) Any person, firm, or corporation who or that owns a business occupying the premises in which a device or vending machine that dispenses cigarettes, or any other tobacco product or electronic nicotine-delivery system product is located who or that shall violate any of the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall for the first offense be subject to a fine of seventy-five dollars ($75.00), for the second offense, be subject to a fine of one hundred fifty dollars ($150), and for the third and any subsequent offense, be subject to a fine of five hundred dollars ($500); provided, that in the event that there are no offenses in three (3) successive years from the date of the last offense, then the next offense shall be treated as the first offense.

(e) Any person, firm, or corporation who or that shall violate subsection (c) of this section shall, for the first offense, be subject to a fine of seventy-five dollars ($75.00), for the second offense, be subject to a fine of one hundred fifty dollars ($150), and for the third and any subsequent offense, be subject to a fine of five hundred dollars ($500); provided, that in the event that there are no offenses in three (3) successive years from the date of the last offense, then the next offense shall be treated as the first offense.

(f) One-half (Â½) of all the fines collected pursuant to this section shall be transferred to the municipalities in which the citations originated. One-half (Â½) of all the fines collected pursuant to this section shall be transferred to the general fund.

(g) Severability. If any provision of this section or the application of it to any person or circumstance is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this section, which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this section are declared to be severable.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-35-2 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-35 / Section 11-35-2
§ 11-35-2. Badges of telegraph and telephone workers.
Status: in_force

No person shall labor upon the work of erecting or repairing any telegraph or telephone line belonging to any telegraph or telephone company without having conspicuously attached to his or her dress a medal or badge, on which shall be legibly inscribed the name of the owners by whom he or she is employed, and a number by which he or she can be readily identified.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-20-1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-20 / Section 11-20-1
§ 11-20-1. Disinterment of body.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall, without proper authorization, disinter, dig up, remove, or carry away any human body from its place of sepulture, or who shall knowingly conceal any such body so disinterred or carried away, shall be imprisoned not exceeding ten (10) years or fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-35-9 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-35 / Section 11-35-9
§ 11-35-9. Bypassing electric meter  Use of electricity with intent to defraud.
Status: in_force

Every person who, with intent to injure or defraud any person, persons, association, or corporation generating, conducting, using, or supplying the electric current, either for the purposes of his, her, its or their own business or for the purpose of selling the electric current at a stipulated rate of payment, shall make or cause to be made any wire or other instrument or contrivance and connect it or cause it to be connected with any electric wire, appliance, apparatus or appurtenance used for or in connection with the wires or apparatus employed for generating, conducting, using, or supplying electric current, in any manner that is calculated either to waste and dissipate the electric current or to supply the electric current to any lamp, burner, heater, machine, motor or other apparatus or appliance whatsoever, without the electric current passing through a meter provided by the person, persons, association, or corporation and used for registering the quantity so passing through, or without the consent of the person, persons, association, or corporation to the connections, or who shall otherwise use any electric current with the intent to defraud the person, persons, association or corporation of payment, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be imprisoned not exceeding thirty (30) days or be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500). In any prosecution under this section proof that any of the acts specified in this section was done on or about the premises occupied by the defendant, or proof of the presence on or about the premises of any wire or other instrument or contrivance which effects the waste or dissipation or the diversion of electric current without the electric current being measured or registered by a meter provided for it or without the consent of the person, persons, association, or corporation, shall be prima facie evidence that the defendant committed the acts, or aided or abetted in their commission, maliciously and with intent to injure or defraud.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-19-42 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-19 / Section 11-19-42
§ 11-19-42. Forfeiture of charter rights and privileges.
Status: in_force

(a) Upon conviction for a violation of this chapter or upon revocation of a certificate of approval, the attorney general may apply to the superior court:

(1) For the forfeiture of any charter rights, franchise privileges or powers of the corporation held by the convicted person under the laws of this state;

(2) For dissolution, if the person is a corporation or limited partnership organized under the laws of this state; or

(3) For the suspension of the privilege to exist within this state.

(b) The court, after giving due consideration to the public interest and to relevant competitive and economic circumstances, may grant as much of the requested relief as is deemed appropriate. A dissolution shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures specified by law for either voluntary or judicial dissolution of the particular type of corporation, association, firm, or partnership.

(c) If any corporation, association, partnership, or limited partnership shall be dissolved or have its privilege to exist in this state suspended or revoked as provided in subsection (a) of this section, no assignee, transferee, or successor-in-interest of the corporation, association, partnership, or limited partnership shall be permitted to incorporate or to transact business in this state without first applying to the court for and receiving an order permitting incorporation or transaction of business. No order shall be granted unless the applicant proves to the satisfaction of the court that it will conduct its affairs in accordance with all applicable laws.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-1-5.1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-1 / Section 11-1-5.1
§ 11-1-5.1. Reports of crimes to law enforcement officials.
Status: in_force

A person who knows that another person is a victim of sexual assault, murder, manslaughter, or armed robbery and who is at the scene of the crime shall, to the extent that the person can do so without danger of peril to the person or others, report the crime to an appropriate law enforcement official as soon as reasonably practicable. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be subject to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six (6) months, or by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-13.15 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-9 / Section 11-9-13.15
§ 11-9-13.15. Penalty for operating without a dealer license.
Status: in_force

(a) Any individual or business who or that violates this chapter by selling or conveying a tobacco product without a retail tobacco products dealer license shall be cited for that violation and shall be required to appear in court for a hearing on the citation.

(b) Any individual or business cited for a violation under this section of this chapter shall:

(1) Either post a two-thousand-five-hundred-dollar ($2,500) bond with the court within ten (10) days of the citation; or

(2) Sign and accept the citation indicating a promise to appear in court.

(c) An individual or business who or that has accepted the citation may:

(1) Pay a ten-thousand-dollar ($10,000) fine, either by mail or in person, within ten (10) days after receiving the citation; or

(2) If that individual or business has posted a bond, forfeit the bond by not appearing at the scheduled hearing. If the individual or business cited pays the ten-thousand-dollar ($10,000) fine or forfeits the bond, that individual or business is deemed to have admitted the cited violation and to have waived the right to a hearing on the issue of commission on the violation.

(d) The court after a hearing on a citation shall make a determination as to whether a violation has been committed. If it is established that the violation did occur, the court shall impose a ten-thousand-dollar ($10,000) fine, in addition to any court costs or other court fees.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37-8.3 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-37 / Section 11-37-8.3
§ 11-37-8.3. Second degree child molestation sexual assault.
Status: in_force

A person is guilty of a second degree child molestation sexual assault if he or she engages in sexual contact with another person fourteen (14) years of age or under.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-21 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-9 / Section 11-9-21
§ 11-9-21. Prohibition of sale of certain dietary supplements to minors.
Status: in_force

(a) It shall be a misdemeanor for any manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer, or other person, to sell, transfer, or otherwise furnish any of the following to a person under 18 years of age:

(1) A dietary supplement containing an ephedrine group alkaloid.

(2) A dietary supplement containing any of the following:

(A) Androstanedoil.

(B) Androstanedione.

(C) Androstenedione.

(D) Noradrostenediol.

(E) Norandrostenedione.

(F) Dehydroepiandrosterone.

(b) The seller shall request valid identification from any individual who attempts to purchase a dietary supplement set forth in subsection (a) if that individual reasonably appears to the seller to be under 18 years of age.

(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), a retail clerk who fails to request identification pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall not be guilty of a misdemeanor, subject to any civil penalties, or subject to any disciplinary action or discharge by his or her employer.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-11-4 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-11 / Section 11-11-4
§ 11-11-4. Prevention from carrying on employment.
Status: in_force

Every person who, by himself or herself or in concert with other persons, shall attempt by force, violence, threats or intimidation of any kind to prevent, or who shall prevent, any other person from entering upon and pursuing any employment, upon any terms and conditions as that person may think proper, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and be fined not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) or be imprisoned not exceeding ninety (90) days.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-12-2 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-12 / Section 11-12-2
§ 11-12-2. Challenging or accepting challenge to duel.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall challenge another to fight a duel with any dangerous weapon, to the hazard of life, and every person who shall accept a challenge to fight such duel, although no duel be fought, shall be imprisoned not exceeding seven (7) years nor less than one year.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-60.1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-47 / Section 11-47-60.1
§ 11-47-60.1. Safe storage  Unsafe storage of a firearm.
Status: in_force

(a) Nothing in this section shall be construed to reduce or limit any existing right to purchase and own firearms and/or ammunition or to provide authority to any state or local agency to infringe upon the privacy of any family, home or business except by lawful warrant.

(b) A person who stores or leaves a firearm in any place is guilty of the violation of unsafe storage of a firearm unless the firearm is secured in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other safety device, properly engaged in order to render such firearm inoperable by any person other than the owner or other lawfully authorized user. This section does not apply to a firearm that is being carried by or can be readily carried by a lawfully authorized user who is in proximity to the firearm. Any violation of this subsection shall result in, for a first offense, a civil infraction punishable by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250), and for a second offense, a civil infraction punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). A third or subsequent violation of this subsection shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment for no more than six (6) months, or a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or both.

(c) A person who stores or leaves on premises under their control a firearm and who knows or reasonably should know that a child is likely to gain access to the firearm without the permission of the childs parent or guardian, or who knows or reasonably should know that a person who is prohibited, under state or federal law, from purchasing or possessing firearms is likely to gain access to the firearm, is guilty of criminal storage of a firearm in the second degree if a child or person who is prohibited, under state or federal law, from purchasing or possessing firearms obtains access to the firearm. Any person who violates this section shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment for no more than one year, or be fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or both. For purposes of this section, a child is defined as any person who has not attained the age of eighteen (18) years.

(d) A person is guilty of criminal storage of a firearm in the first degree if they commit the crime of criminal storage in the second degree and the firearm obtained by a child or a person who is prohibited, under state or federal law, from purchasing or possessing firearms is used by said person in the commission of a crime or to cause injury to himself or herself or any other person. Any violation of this subsection shall, upon conviction, be punishable by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both.

(e) The provisions of subsections (c) and (d) of this section shall not apply whenever any of the following occurs:

(1) The child or person who is prohibited, under state or federal law, from purchasing or possessing firearms obtains the firearm as a result of an illegal entry of any premises by any person or an illegal taking of the firearm from the premises of the owner without permission of the owner;

(2) The firearm is secured in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other safety device, properly engaged in order to render such firearm inoperable by any person other than the owner or other lawfully authorized user;

(3) The firearm is being carried by or can be readily carried by a lawfully authorized user who is in proximity to the firearm; or

(4) [Deleted by P.L. 2024, ch. 107, § 1 and P.L. 2024, ch. 108, § 1.]

(5) The child or person who is prohibited, under state or federal law, from purchasing or possessing firearms obtains or obtains and discharges the firearm in a lawful act of self-defense or defense of another person.

(6) [Deleted by P.L. 2024, ch. 107, § 1 and P.L. 2024, ch. 108, § 1.]

(f)(1) If the person who allegedly violated this section is the parent or guardian of a child who is injured or who dies as the result of an accidental shooting, the attorney general shall consider among other factors, the impact of the injury or death on the person who has allegedly violated this section when deciding whether to prosecute an alleged violation.

(2) It is the intent of the general assembly that a parent or guardian of a child who is injured or who dies of an accidental shooting shall be prosecuted only in those instances in which the parent or guardian behaved in a grossly negligent manner.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-22-11 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-22 / Section 11-22-11
§ 11-22-11. Testing speed of horse.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall drive any horse over any of the public highways, for the purpose of racing or trying the speed of the horse, shall be fined not more than twenty dollars ($20.00) or imprisoned not exceeding ten (10) days.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-41-13 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-41 / Section 11-41-13
§ 11-41-13. Obtaining signature by false pretenses.
Status: in_force

Every person who, by any false pretense or pretenses, with intent to cheat or defraud, shall obtain the signature of any person to any written instrument, the false making of which would be punished as forgery, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-18-11 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-18 / Section 11-18-11
§ 11-18-11. Immunity of publishers and advertising media.
Status: in_force

The provisions of § 11-8-10 shall not apply to any radio station, television station, publisher of a newspaper, magazine or other publication or any other recognized advertising media or printer who publishes or prints the advertisement without actual knowledge of its falsity. The fact of the publishing or printing of the advertisement shall not be prima facie evidence of actual knowledge of falsity or deceptiveness.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-25-12 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-25 / Section 11-25-12
§ 11-25-12. Earnings of city or town prisoners.
Status: in_force

No law of this state shall be so construed as to give any city or town a claim upon the state for the labor or services of any person committed to the correctional institutions under its authority.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-41-30 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-41 / Section 11-41-30
§ 11-41-30. Fraud as to health insurer.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall obtain health care services from a provider of those services by any false pretense or pretenses with intent to cheat or defraud a health care services insurer or a service corporation organized under chapters 18, 19, 20, 20.1, 20.2 or 41 of title 27 shall be deemed guilty of larceny.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-44-28 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-44 / Section 11-44-28
§ 11-44-28. Trespass upon premises of private recreational facilities.
Status: in_force

Every person who willfully trespasses and remains upon the land or premises of private recreational facilities, after having been forbidden to do so by the owner or the person having control over the facility, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500); provided, the existing rights of fishers shall not be infringed. Facilities as used in this section means private property used for games, sports, or entertainment, including, without limitation, golf courses, beaches, and bathing facilities.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-49-1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-49 / Section 11-49-1
§ 11-49-1. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter:

(1) Cardholder means the person or organization named on the face of a credit card to whom or for whose benefit the credit card is issued by an issuer.

(2) Credit card means any instrument or device, whether known as a credit card, credit plate, or by any other name, issued with or without fee by an issuer for the use of the card holder in obtaining money, goods, services, or anything else of value on credit.

(3) Expired credit card means a credit card which is no longer valid because the term shown on it has elapsed.

(4) Issuer means the business organization or financial institution, or its duly authorized agent, which issues a credit card.

(5) Receives or receiving means acquiring possession or control or accepting as security for a loan a credit card.

(6) Revoked credit card means a credit card which is no longer valid because permission to use it has been suspended or terminated by the issuer.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-46-4 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-46 / Section 11-46-4
§ 11-46-4. Enforcement.
Status: in_force

Enforcement of § 11-46-3 shall be within the jurisdiction of the director of environmental management.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-52-7 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-52 / Section 11-52-7
§ 11-52-7. Use of false information.
Status: in_force

Whoever intentionally or knowingly makes a transmission of false data for the purpose of submitting a claim for payment, or makes, presents, or uses or causes to be made, presented, or used any data for the purpose of submitting a claim for payment with knowledge of its falsity and with knowledge that it will be used for any claim for payment, shall be guilty of a felony and shall be subject to the penalties set forth in § 11-52-5.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-49-2 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-49 / Section 11-49-2
§ 11-49-2. False statement as to financial condition or identity.
Status: in_force

A person who makes or causes to be made, either directly or indirectly, any false statement as to a material fact in writing, knowing it to be false and with intent that it be relied on respecting his or her identity or that of any other person, firm, or corporation or his or her financial condition or that of any other person, firm, or corporation, for the purpose of procuring the issuance of a credit card, violates this section and is subject to the penalties set forth in § 11-49-10(a).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-7-6 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-7 / Section 11-7-6
§ 11-7-6. Civil liability for violating § 11-7-3 or 11-7-4.
Status: in_force

Any person injured by any violation of the provisions of § 11-7-3 or 11-7-4 may recover from the person or persons inflicting the injury twice the amount of the injury.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-55-1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-55 / Section 11-55-1
§ 11-55-1. Definitions.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter:

(1) Civil disorder means any public disturbance involving acts of violence by assemblages of three (3) or more persons, which causes an immediate danger of, or results in, damage or injury to the property or person of any other individual.

(2) Explosive or incendiary device means:

(i) Dynamite and all other forms of high explosives;

(ii) Any explosive bomb, grenade, missile, or similar device; and

(iii) Any incendiary bomb or grenade, fire bomb, or similar device, including any device which:

(A) Consists of or includes a breakable container including a flammable liquid or compound, and a wick composed of any material which, when ignited, is capable of igniting the flammable liquid or compound; and

(B) Can be carried or thrown by one individual acting alone.

(3) Firearm means any weapon which is designed to, or may readily be converted to, expel any projectile by the action of an explosive; or the frame or receiver of any weapon of that type.

(4) Law enforcement officer means any officer or employee of the United States, any state, or any political subdivision of a state acting in his or her official capacity; the term shall specifically include, but shall not be limited to, members of the National Guard, as defined in 10 U.S.C. § 101(9), the naval militia, the independent chartered military organizations set forth in § 30-1-4 and the department of environmental management in the operation of a firearm training course under its auspices.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-44-6 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-44 / Section 11-44-6
§ 11-44-6. Defacement of bank bills and notes.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall willfully and mischievously tear, cut, burn, or in any other manner damage and impair the integrity, strength, or usefulness for circulation of any bank bill or note issued by any corporation which is established as a bank in this state, or shall willfully and mischievously write, print, blot, or stamp any impression on a bill or note, or shall aid and abet in any of the offenses provided in this section, shall be imprisoned not exceeding one year nor less than one month.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-63-1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-63 / Section 11-63-1
§ 11-63-1. Unlawful use and/or removal of theft detection shielding devices.
Status: in_force

(a) A person commits unlawful use of a theft detection shielding device when he or she knowingly manufactures, sells, offers for sale or distributes in any way a laminated or coated bag or device peculiar to and marketed for shielding and intended to shield merchandise from detection by an electronic or magnetic theft alarm sensor.

(b) A person commits unlawful possession of a theft detection shielding device when he or she knowingly possesses any laminated or coated bag or device peculiar to and designed for shielding and intended to shield merchandise from detection by an electronic or magnetic theft alarm sensor, with the intent to commit theft or retail theft.

(c) A person commits unlawful possession of a theft detection device remover when he or she knowingly possesses any tool or device designed to allow the removal of any theft detection device from any merchandise with the intent to use the tool to remove any theft detection device from any merchandise without the permission of the merchant or person owning or holding the merchandise.

(d) A person commits unlawful removal of a theft detection device when he or she intentionally removes the device from merchandise prior to purchase.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-8-6 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-8 / Section 11-8-6
§ 11-8-6. Entry to steal poultry  Arrest  Fine.
Status: in_force

Every person who breaks and enters, or enters in the nighttime without breaking, any building or enclosure in which are kept or confined any kind of poultry, with intent to steal any of the poultry, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or both. Every person who is discovered in the act of willfully entering any building or enclosure in which are kept or confined any kind of poultry, with intent to steal any of the poultry, may be arrested without a warrant by a deputy sheriff, town constable, guard, police officer, or other person and detained in jail or otherwise until a complaint can be made against him or her for the offense, and until he or she is taken on a warrant issued upon the complaint, but detention without a warrant shall not continue more than twenty-four (24) hours. One-half (Â½) of any fine imposed under this section shall inure to the complainant.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-25-23 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-25 / Section 11-25-23
§ 11-25-23. Allowing prisoners to have controlled substances.
Status: in_force

(a) Every person who shall voluntarily permit any prisoner to unlawfully have access to any controlled substances as defined in § 21-28-1.02 shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years, or by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.

(b) For the purposes of this section, prisoner includes all persons committed to the adult correctional institutions, in the custody of the warden, in the custody of any other officer while outside the confines of the custodial unit, in the custody of the state director of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals pursuant to § 40.1-5.3-1, or the Rhode Island training school for youth, regardless of whether that prisoner is held upon conviction or upon any criminal charge.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-39 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-47 / Section 11-47-39
§ 11-47-39. Issuance and conditions of dealers license.
Status: in_force

The duly constituted licensing authorities of any city, town, or political subdivision of this state may grant licenses in form prescribed by the attorney general effective for not more than one year from date of issue permitting the licensee to sell pistols and revolvers at retail within this state, subject to the following conditions in addition to those specified in §§ 11-47-35 and 11-47-36, for breach of any of which the license shall be forfeited and the licensee subject to punishment as provided in this chapter:

(1) The business shall be carried on only in the building designated in the license.

(2) The license or a copy of it, certified by the issuing authority, shall be displayed on the premises where it can easily be read.

(3) No pistol or revolver shall be sold in violation of any provision of this chapter, nor shall a pistol or revolver be sold under any circumstances unless the purchaser is personally known to the seller or shall present clear evidence of his or her identity.

(4) The fee for issuing the license shall be five dollars ($5.00). The fee charged for the issuing of the license shall be applied for the use and benefit of the city or town.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-33-7 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-33 / Section 11-33-7
§ 11-33-7. Perjury or false swearing  Child support.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall violate any provision of this chapter in any case or controversy involving the abandonment or nonsupport of a child pending before the family court or any other tribunal or agency of competent jurisdiction shall be guilty of a felony and shall be imprisoned for a term not to exceed twenty (20) years.

[See §12-1-15 of the General Laws.]
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-5-17 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-5 / Section 11-5-17
§ 11-5-17. Assault or battery for purpose of causing unconsciousness.
Status: in_force

Any person who shall make an assault or battery, or both, by causing, or attempting to cause, another person to be rendered unconscious by a single punch, kick, or other singular striking motion to the head of such person for the purpose of bringing about the loss of consciousness of such person, or who shall knowingly assist, aid, abet, solicit, encourage, counsel, command, or conspire to coerce any person to commit such an act, shall be deemed to have committed a felony and shall be imprisoned for not more than three (3) years or fined not more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-5-11 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-5 / Section 11-5-11
§ 11-5-11. Assault on persons with severe impairments.
Status: in_force

(a) For the purposes of this section:

(1) adult means a person over the age of eighteen (18).

(2) major life activities means: (i) mobility; (ii) self-care; (iii) communication; (iv) receptive and/or expressive language; (v) learning; (vi) self-direction; (vii) capacity for independent living; or (viii) economic self-sufficiency.

(3) person with severe impairments means a child or adult who has a disability which is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments which results in a substantial limitation on the persons ability to function independently in the family or community and in one or more major life activities.

(b) Any person who shall commit an assault and battery upon a person who is severely impaired as defined in subsection (a) of this section, causing bodily injury, shall be deemed to have committed a felony and shall be imprisoned not exceeding five (5) years, or fined not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000), or both.

(c) Violations of this section shall be reported to the local police department.

(d) After July 1, 2007 pursuant to § 40-8.5-2, the local police department may request the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals provide crisis intervention services for the adult victim with severe impairments when:

(1) Necessary to ensure the immediate health and safety of the adult victim;

(2) The adult victim relies on the person believed to have committed the assault and/or battery, for assistance in performing three (3) or more major life activities; and

(3) After the victim is informed of his or her right to refuse crisis intervention and/or supportive services.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-13.23 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-9 / Section 11-9-13.23
§ 11-9-13.23. Prohibition on the delivery sale of kratom products. [Effective April 1, 2026.]
Status: in_force

Kratom and kratom products shall only be sold at retail at the fixed location for which a person holds a kratom retailer license issued by the department of health. Delivery of kratom and kratom products to retail purchasers is prohibited.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-36-10 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-36 / Section 11-36-10
§ 11-36-10. Evasion of payment of fare.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall fraudulently evade or attempt to evade the payment of any fare, rate or toll lawfully established by any railroad company, or a street railway company, or a toll bridge company, or by the owners or charterers of any steamboat or ferryboat, or by any steamship company, or by any owner or operator of a motor bus holding a certificate from the public utility commission, or by the Rhode Island public transit authority, either by giving a false answer to the collector of the fare, rate, or toll, or by presenting for his or her fare, rate, or toll a ticket good only for the transportation of another person, or by traveling beyond the point to which he or she may have paid his or her fare, rate, or toll, or by leaving the train, car, bridge, steamboat, ferryboat, or steamship without having paid the fair, rate, or toll established for the distance traveled, or otherwise, shall be fined twenty dollars ($20.00) for each offense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-36-9 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-36 / Section 11-36-9
§ 11-36-9. Obstruction of street railway company.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall willfully and maliciously obstruct a street railway company in the use of its tracks, or willfully and maliciously delay or obstruct the passing of its cars or carriages, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding three thousand dollars ($3,000) or by imprisonment not exceeding two (2) years; provided, that nothing in this chapter shall be construed to interfere with the necessary work of laying and repairing any gas or water pipes or sewers, or the necessary and reasonable obstruction of tracks by vehicles in the process of loading and unloading not prohibited by any town or city ordinance. Every person who shall aid, assist, abet, counsel, hire, command, or procure any person to do or attempt any of the acts mentioned in this section shall be subject to fine or imprisonment pursuant to this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-60-5 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-60 / Section 11-60-5
§ 11-60-5. Injunctive relief.
Status: in_force

(a) The attorney general is empowered to seek an injunction against any person violating the provisions of this chapter. The person who has been assisted or counseled in an attempt to commit suicide, may seek an injunction against all future unlawful assisted suicides by the particular individual who assisted or attempted to assist the suicide.

(b) A cause of action for injunctive relief under this section may be maintained by the attorney general against any individual or licensed health care practitioner who is reasonably believed to be about to violate or who is in the course of violating this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-13.9 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-9 / Section 11-9-13.9
§ 11-9-13.9. Multiple citations prohibited.
Status: in_force

No person shall be liable under this chapter for more than one citation on any one day. However, a single citation may list one or more violations of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-19 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-9 / Section 11-9-19
§ 11-9-19. Sale of spray paint to minors.
Status: in_force

(a) No person shall knowingly sell to any child under eighteen (18) years of age any aerosol container of paint capable of defacing property.

(b) For purposes of this section, bona fide evidence of majority, identity of majority and identity of the person is a document issued by a federal, state, county, or municipal government, or subdivision or agency of them, including, but not limited to, a motor vehicle operators license, a registration certificate issued under the federal Selective Service Act, 50 App. U.S.C. § 451 et seq., or an identification card issued to a member of the armed forces.

(c) Proof that the defendant, or his employee or agent, demanded, was shown and acted in reliance upon bona fide evidence in any sale transaction forbidden by subsection (a) of this section, shall be a defense to any criminal prosecution for that violation.

(d) Any person who owns, manages or operates a place of business where aerosol containers of paint capable of defacing property are sold shall conspicuously post notice of this law in the place of business in letters at least three-eighths of an inch ( ") high.

(e) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100) for each offense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-27-5 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-27 / Section 11-27-5
§ 11-27-5. Practice restricted to members of bar.
Status: in_force

No person, except a duly admitted member of the bar of this state, whose authority as a member to practice law is in full force and effect, shall practice law in this state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-15.3 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-47 / Section 11-47-15.3
§ 11-47-15.3. Commission on law enforcement standards and training.
Status: in_force

(a) In lieu of the provisions of §§ 11-47-15.1, 11-47-15.2 and 11-47-17, each law enforcement department of this state and its political subdivisions may, on an annual basis, submit to the commission on law enforcement standards and training, referred to in this section as the commission, a proposal for the training and qualification of their officers on all firearms which they are authorized to carry or use in the performance of their official duties.

(b) Each proposal shall include training and qualification in the following areas:

(1) Decision shooting;

(2) Reduced light shooting;

(3) Moving targets;

(4) Use of cover;

(5) Non-dominate hand shooting;

(6) Alternate position shooting;

(7) Reloading drills;

(8) Malfunction drills.

(c) A minimum number of one hundred (100) rounds shall be fired by each officer during the training and qualification.

(d) Qualification shall be no less than twenty percent (20%) nor more than fifty percent (50%) of the total rounds fired. A minimum qualifying score shall be sixty-six percent (66%) of the rounds fired during the qualification phase.

(e) The commission shall review each proposal and, within fourteen (14) days, notify the department, in writing, whether the proposal is accepted or rejected. In the case of rejection, the commission shall make recommendations to the department which, if implemented, would make the proposal acceptable. Upon receipt of this notification, the department shall have fourteen (14) days to submit a new proposal that is acceptable to the commission.

(f) In the event that a department neglects to submit a proposal to the commission or fails to submit a proposal that is approved by the commission, the officers of that department shall be required to fulfill the requirements for qualification as set out in § 11-47-15.1, 11-47-15.2, 11-47-17 or 11-47-17.1.

(g) All law enforcement officers of this state and its political subdivisions whose permanent appointment shall take place after July 1, 1997, will be required to qualify under the provisions of this section with all weapons which they are authorized to carry or use in the execution of their official duties.

(h) Any law enforcement officer of this state and its political subdivisions whose permanent appointment took place prior to July 1, 1997, may elect to qualify under the applicable provisions of § 11-47-15.1, 11-47-15.2, 11-47-17 or 11-47-17.1.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-18-16 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-18 / Section 11-18-16
§ 11-18-16. Sale of fuels and lubricants under false trademark or name  Adulteration.
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation, to expose for sale, offer for sale, or sell under any trademark or trade name in general use, any liquid fuels, lubricating oils, or other like products, except those manufactured or distributed by the manufacturer or distributor marketing liquid fuels, lubricating oils, or other like products, under the trademark or trade name, or to substitute, mix, or adulterate, the liquid fuels, lubricating oils, or other similar products, sold, offered for sale, or distributed, under the trademark or trade name.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-22-5 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-22 / Section 11-22-5
§ 11-22-5. Penalty for unlawful windmill.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall erect, locate, or run any windmill within twenty-five (25) rods of any traveled street or road shall be fined for every offense not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) nor less than one hundred dollars ($100), one-half (Â½) inuring to the use of the city or town where the offense shall have been committed and one-half (Â½) to the use of the state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-4-3 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-4 / Section 11-4-3
§ 11-4-3. Arson  Second degree.
Status: in_force

Any person who knowingly causes, aids, procures or counsels by means of fire or explosion the damage or destruction of any unoccupied building, structure or facility the property of that person or another shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two (2) years nor more than twenty (20) years, or shall be fined not more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), or both; provided, that if death occurs to a person as a direct result of the fire or explosion or to a person who is directly involved in fighting the fire or explosion, imprisonment shall be for not less than twenty (20) years.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-25 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-47 / Section 11-47-25
§ 11-47-25. Antique firearms and collections.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall not apply to antique firearms unsuitable for use, nor to collections of firearms utilized and maintained for educational, scientific, or any similar purpose without intent to use the firearms.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-5-14 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-5 / Section 11-5-14
§ 11-5-14. Assault on child in care of department of children, youth and families.
Status: in_force

Any employee of the department of children, youth and families, or any employee of any public or private agency with which the department contracts for services in furtherance of the care or custody of children, who shall commit an assault and battery upon a child in the care of the department shall be deemed to have committed a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than three (3) years but not more than ten (10) years and a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-41-18 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-41 / Section 11-41-18
§ 11-41-18. Defacement or conversion of rental battery.
Status: in_force

Any person, other than the owner or the owners duly authorized agent, who shall wrongfully or maliciously remove, deface, alter, or destroy, or cause to be removed, defaced, altered, or destroyed, the word rental printed, painted, stamped upon or attached to any electric storage battery, or who shall wrongfully sell, give, or attempt to sell or give to any person any electric storage battery so marked, or who shall, without the written consent of the owner, retain in his or her possession any electric storage battery so marked, with intent to wrongfully keep or dispose of the battery by sale or gift, shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-35-20.1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-35 / Section 11-35-20.1
§ 11-35-20.1. Wrongful termination or disruption of service.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person who has been served an order issued pursuant to chapter 8.1 of title 8, or chapters 5 or 15 of title 15 who causes the interruption of any utility service by false presentation or other means at the residence of the person(s) protected by a protective order issued pursuant to chapter 8.1 of title 8, or chapters 5 or 15 of title 15 shall constitute harassment.

(b) Any person subject to an order issued pursuant to chapter 8.1 of title 8, or chapters 5 or 15 of title 15 who wishes to remove their name from a utility bill and terminate their future financial responsibility for making payments on that bill must first seek approval from the court that issued the protective order.

(1) The court shall not allow any person, upon his or her own motion, to remove his or her name from a utility bill and terminate their financial responsibility with respect to the utility bill without first ensuring that the preexisting balance owed to the utility has been satisfied and that the person(s) covered by the protective order is able to establish an account under his or her own name without the need to make a deposit that causes hardship, and is capable of fulfilling their financial obligations towards the utility in the future.

(c) Nothing in this section shall prevent a person protected by an order issued pursuant to chapter 8.1 of title 8, or chapters 5 or 15 of title 15 from transferring a utility bill into his or her name and assuming any and all obligations to the utility.

(d) Any person who shall wrongfully terminate or disrupt any utility service in violation of this section shall be guilty of a violation and subject to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-4-7 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-4 / Section 11-4-7
§ 11-4-7. Arson  Sixth degree.
Status: in_force

Any person who knowingly causes, procures, aids or counsels the destruction of woodlands by fire which shall run and spread at large shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned not exceeding two (2) years, or shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37-8.4 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-37 / Section 11-37-8.4
§ 11-37-8.4. Penalty for second degree child molestation sexual assault.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall commit second degree child molestation sexual assault shall be imprisoned for not less than six (6) years nor more than thirty (30) years.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-40 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-47 / Section 11-47-40
§ 11-47-40. Register of sales of firearms  Display of firearms.
Status: in_force

(a) Every person, firm, or corporation selling a pistol, revolver, or other firearm whether the seller is a retail dealer, pawnbroker, or otherwise shall keep a register in which shall be entered at the time of sale the date of sale, name, age, and residence of every purchaser of the a pistol, revolver, or other firearm, together with the caliber, make, model, manufacturers number, or other mark of identification on the pistol, revolver, or other firearm. Every person, firm, or corporation who shall fail to keep a register and to enter the acts required by this section shall, upon conviction, be punished as provided in this chapter. The register shall be open at all reasonable hours for the mandatory monthly inspection of licensed firearm dealers to be conducted by state and/or local police officials.

(b) This section shall not apply to wholesale dealers bona fide sales at wholesale to duly licensed retail dealers. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation dealing in firearms to display any pistol, revolver, or imitation, or any firearm of a size which may be concealed upon the person, or placard advertising the sale of one, in any part of the premises of the person, firm, or corporation where it can be readily seen from the outside. Firearm as utilized in this section only does not apply to an air rifle, air pistol, blank gun, or BB gun.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-16-2 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-16 / Section 11-16-2
§ 11-16-2. Sale or killing of young calves.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall kill or cause to be killed, for the purpose of sale, or who shall sell to any person engaged in the business of killing of animals to be used for food purposes, any calf less than four (4) weeks old and the weight of which is less than seventy-five (75) pounds, or shall sell, or possess with intent to sell, the flesh of any calf which he or she knows to have been killed when less than four (4) weeks old, or the weight of which calf before being killed he or she knows to have been less than seventy-five (75) pounds, shall be fined not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-19-28 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-19 / Section 11-19-28
§ 11-19-28. Fees for seizure and removal of gambling apparatus.
Status: in_force

In addition to the fees allowed by law, the officer who shall serve any warrant for the seizure of any gambling implements or apparatus under the provisions of this chapter shall be allowed the sum of one dollar ($1.00), and for the removing of any gambling implements or apparatus so seized to a place of safety, one dollar ($1.00) and all necessary expenses incurred in removal. These fees shall be included in the bill of costs and taxed by the court.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-6-2 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-6 / Section 11-6-2
§ 11-6-2. Adultery.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall commit adultery shall be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500); and illicit sexual intercourse between any two (2) persons, where either of them is married, shall be deemed adultery in each.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-41-12 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-41 / Section 11-41-12
§ 11-41-12. Fraudulent conversion by agent or factor.
Status: in_force

Every agent or factor who shall deposit or pledge any goods, wares, or merchandise or any bill of lading, receipt, or certificate of a warehouse keeper or inspector, or any warrant or order for the delivery of goods with which he or she shall have been entrusted, or which shall have been consigned to him or her as a security for any money or other property borrowed or received by the agent or factor, and shall apply or dispose of the proceeds to his or her own use, in violation of good faith, and with intent to defraud any owner of the goods, shall be deemed and taken to be guilty of a felony and shall be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) or be imprisoned not exceeding five (5) years.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-7-11 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-7 / Section 11-7-11
§ 11-7-11. Bribery of witness.
Status: in_force

Any person who shall corruptly give or offer to give any sum of money or any bribe, present, or reward, or any promise or security to obtain or influence the testimony of any witness to any crime or to induce the witness to absent himself or herself from, or otherwise avoid or seek to avoid appearing or testifying at, any hearing shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction shall be imprisoned for not more than seven (7) years, or fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both. Nothing in this section shall be construed to make an agreement between the victim and the defendant to dismiss a criminal charge unlawful.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-30-11 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-30 / Section 11-30-11
§ 11-30-11. Injunction.
Status: in_force

Any person who shall use, occupy, establish, or conduct a nuisance, or aid or abet in it, either as principal or as the agent of any other person, shall be guilty of maintaining a nuisance and shall be enjoined as provided in chapter 1 of title 10.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-19-7 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-19 / Section 11-19-7
§ 11-19-7. Judicial notice of policy methods.
Status: in_force

Any court or magistrate having criminal jurisdiction may take judicial notice of the general methods and character of lotteries, policy-lotteries, of the game called policy, pools, or combination bets, and the buying and selling of pools and registering of bets, not authorized by the Rhode Island state police.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-64-1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-64 / Section 11-64-1
§ 11-64-1. Definitions.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter the following definitions apply:

(1) Disseminate means to make available by any means to any person.

(2) Harm means bodily injury, emotional distress, financial loss, or reputational injury.

(3) Identifiable means identifiable by any person from the visual image or information offered in connection with the visual material.

(4) Imaging device means any electronic instrument capable of capturing, recording, storing, or transmitting visual images.

(5) Intimate areas means the naked or undergarment clad genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or any portion of the female breast below the top of the areola of a person that the person intended to be protected from public view.

(6) Legal entity means any partnership, firm, association, corporation, or any agent or servant thereof.

(7) Publish means to:

(i) Disseminate with the intent that the image or images be made available by any means to any person or other legal entity;

(ii) Disseminate with the intent the images be sold by another person or legal entity;

(iii) Post, present, display, exhibit, circulate, advertise, or allow access by any means, so as to make an image or images available to the public; or

(iv) Disseminate with the intent that an image or images be posted, presented, displayed, exhibited, circulated, advertised, or made accessible by any means, and to make the images available to the public.

(8) Sell means to disseminate to another person, or to publish, in exchange for something of value.

(9) Sexually explicit conduct means actual:

(i) Graphic sexual intercourse, including: genital-genital, oral-genital, anal-genital, or oral-anal, or lascivious sex where the genitals or pubic area of any person is exhibited;

(ii) Bestiality;

(iii) Masturbation; or

(iv) Sadistic or masochistic abuse.

(10) Visual image means any photograph, film, video, or digital image or recording, whether produced by electronic, mechanical, or other means.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-7-8 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-7 / Section 11-7-8
§ 11-7-8. Accepting bribe to obtain preferential military treatment.
Status: in_force

Any person obtaining anything of value from a spouse, parent, or other blood relative of any citizen of this state in the armed forces of the United States or subject to the Military Selective Service Act, 50 U.S.C. App. § 451 et seq., by claiming that he or she has obtained, can or will obtain for that citizen any exception, deferment, promotion, leave, furlough, preference, change of duty or place of service or the like, shall be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction shall be imprisoned not less than five (5) nor more than twenty-five (25) years.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-27-10 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-27 / Section 11-27-10
§ 11-27-10. Agreement or offer to furnish legal services.
Status: in_force

No person or persons, except members of the bar, either in his, her or their own name or names or under any firm or trade name, shall furnish or agree to furnish legal advice, service or counsel, nor furnish or agree to furnish an attorney at law, nor advertise in any manner that he, she, or they will furnish or agree to furnish legal services or advice or the services of an attorney at law. This prohibition shall not be deemed to apply to an organization, or its representatives, meeting the criteria contained in subsection 11-27-3(b). Nothing in this section shall be deemed to permit members of the bar to advertise contrary to the ethics of their profession.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-19-4 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-19 / Section 11-19-4
§ 11-19-4. Recovery of lottery ticket value by holder.
Status: in_force

The purchaser or receiver of any lottery ticket or certificate in the nature of a lottery ticket, or share in either, not authorized by the Rhode Island state police whether it shall have been paid for in money, or however received, even though by way of gift, for the purpose of enabling the seller or giver to dispose of any article or piece of property, real, personal, or mixed, shall recover back the amount paid by him or her, or the value at which, according to the proof, the ticket or certificate may be reckoned in the transaction, as the case may be, from the person from whom the ticket or policy was purchased or received, in an action of the case for money had and received.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-31-8 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-31 / Section 11-31-8
§ 11-31-8. Entry of premises by deputies.
Status: in_force

Any deputy sheriff, when so directed by the director of the department of public safety, may, in the discharge of their duties, enter any exhibition, performance, or place mentioned in this chapter or chapter 22 of title 5.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-7 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-47 / Section 11-47-7
§ 11-47-7. Possession of firearm by alien.
Status: in_force

(a) No unnaturalized foreign born person who entered the United States in violation of the laws of the United States or, having legally entered the United States in a lawful manner, but now remains in the United States in violation of the laws of the United States, shall purchase, own, carry, transport, or have in his or her possession or under his or her control any firearm.

(b) When any person is charged under this section, the law enforcement agency bringing the charge shall, prior to arraignment, notify the United States Office of Immigration and Naturalization of the charge and further notify the court, at arraignment, of the alleged status of the person so charged.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-50-5 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-50 / Section 11-50-5
§ 11-50-5. Failure to distribute prizes.
Status: in_force

Every person, firm, or corporation who engages in any promotion or advertising scheme or plan of the type set forth in § 11-50-1 and who fails to distribute the offered gifts, prizes, or gratuities to designated winners shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-44-4 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-44 / Section 11-44-4
§ 11-44-4. Shooting, trapping or fishing on posted lands  Destruction of signs.
Status: in_force

Whoever shall enter upon the land of another without the owners permission for the purpose of either shooting, trapping, or fishing when that land shall be conspicuously posted with clear and legible signs stating that shooting, trapping or fishing, as the case may be, is prohibited, or whoever shall remain upon the premises of another for the purpose of shooting, trapping, or fishing after having been forbidden to do so by the owner of the premises or the owners authorized agent, or whoever shall without right mutilate, destroy, or remove any sign stating that shooting, trapping or fishing, as the case may be, is prohibited, shall be fined not exceeding twenty dollars ($20.00).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-35-29 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-35 / Section 11-35-29
§ 11-35-29. Trespassing on utility property.
Status: in_force

Every person who, without right, willfully trespasses and remains upon the land or premises of any utility, after having been forbidden to do so by the owner, agent, or the person having control over the premises of the facility, shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or be imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-41-5 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-41 / Section 11-41-5
§ 11-41-5. Penalties for larceny.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person convicted of any offense under §§ 11-41-1  11-41-6, except § 11-41-3, shall be punished as follows, according to the value of the property or money stolen, received, embezzled, fraudulently appropriated, converted, or obtained, received, taken, or secreted by false pretenses or otherwise with intent to cheat, defraud, embezzle, or fraudulently convert:

(1) If the value exceeds one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), and is less than five thousand dollars ($5,000), by imprisonment for not more than three (3) years or by a fine of not more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), or both;

(2) If the value exceeds five thousand dollars ($5,000), but is less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), by imprisonment for not more than six (6) years or by a fine of not more than three thousand dollars ($3,000), or both; and

(3) If the value exceeds ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or if the property is a firearm as defined in § 11-47-5.1, regardless of its value, the person shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years or by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both. If the value does not exceed one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), the person shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or both. Any person convicted of an offense under § 11-41-2 who shall be found to have knowingly obtained the property from a person under eighteen (18) years of age, notwithstanding the value of the property or money, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years or by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both.

(b) Any person convicted of an offense in violation of §§ 11-41-1  11-41-7, except § 11-41-3, that involves a victim who is a person sixty-five (65) years of age or older at the time of the offense and which involves property or money stolen, received, embezzled, fraudulently appropriated, converted, or obtained, received, taken, or secreted by false pretenses or otherwise with intent to cheat, defraud, embezzle, or fraudulently convert, with a value in excess of five hundred dollars ($500), shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than two (2) years but not more than fifteen (15) years or by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both. If the value of the property or money does not exceed five hundred dollars ($500), the person shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year but not more than five (5) years or by a fine of not more than three thousand dollars ($3,000), or both.

(c) In addition to any other penalties pursuant to this section, an elected official or candidate for office convicted of violating § 11-41-1, § 11-41-2, § 11-41-3, or § 11-41-4 where the theft is a campaign account created, pursuant to title 17, for the benefit of the person so convicted, all restitution shall be deposited into the Rhode Island crime victim compensation program fund and not into the campaign account of that person convicted of the offense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-5-2.3 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-5 / Section 11-5-2.3
§ 11-5-2.3. Domestic assault by strangulation.
Status: in_force

(a) Every person who shall make an assault or battery, or both, by strangulation, on a family or household member as defined in subsection 12-29-2(b), shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years.

(b) Where the provisions of The Domestic Violence Prevention Act, chapter 29 of title 12, are applicable, the penalties for violation of this section shall also include the penalties as provided in § 12-29-5.

(c) Strangulation means knowingly and intentionally impeding normal breathing or circulation of the blood by applying pressure on the throat or neck or by blocking the nose or mouth of another person, with the intent to cause that person harm.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-20 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-9 / Section 11-9-20
§ 11-9-20. Sale of matches.
Status: in_force

(a) No person, firm or corporation that owns, manages or operates a place of business including vending machines shall knowingly sell, give or deliver matches to any child under the age of twelve (12) years. The owner, operator or manager of a place of business where matches are sold shall post a notice of this law conspicuously in the place of business in letters at least three-eighths of an inch ( ") high. Signs required by this section may be provided, at cost, by the department of health.

(b) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be fined one hundred dollars ($100) for each offense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-35-16 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-35 / Section 11-35-16
§ 11-35-16. Wrongfully obtaining telecommunication service.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person who, with intent to injure or defraud any person, persons, association, or corporation furnishing telecommunications service of the whole or any part of the lawful charge for any service, obtains, attempts to obtain, or aids or abets another in obtaining any telecommunications service by any false representation, false statement, or stratagem, by the unauthorized charging to the account of another, by installing or tampering with any facilities or equipment or by any other means, commits a criminal offense and shall be subject to the penalties set forth in § 11-49-10(a), if the value of or the charges for the service obtained in violation of this section does not exceed one hundred dollars ($100) in any six (6) month period, or be subject to the penalties set forth in § 11-49-10(b), if the value of or the charges for the service exceed one hundred dollars ($100) in any six (6) month period; provided, that this section shall not apply to conduct constituting a violation of the provisions of § 11-18-21.

(b) As used in this section, telecommunication service includes the transmission of any video, audio, or other signal by a community antenna television system licensed pursuant to the provisions of chapter 19 of title 39.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-46-2 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-46 / Section 11-46-2
§ 11-46-2. Penalty for violations.
Status: in_force

Any person operating or causing to be operated upon the public waters of this state a boat in violation of the provisions of § 11-46-1 shall be punished by a fine of not less than five dollars ($5.00) nor more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each offense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-36-3 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-36 / Section 11-36-3
§ 11-36-3. Throwing missiles at train.
Status: in_force

Whoever willfully throws or shoots a missile at a locomotive engine, railroad, or street railway car, or other means of public conveyance, or at a person on the engine or car or conveyance, or in any way assaults or interferes with a conductor, engineer, brake operator, driver, or motor operator while in discharge of his or her duty on or near a railroad engine, car, or train, or on or near a street railway car or other means of public conveyance, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or be imprisoned not more than one year. Any violation of the provisions of this section which results in a personal injury to an employee or passenger shall be considered a felony, punishable by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or imprisonment in the state prison not exceeding three (3) years, or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-44-3 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-44 / Section 11-44-3
§ 11-44-3. Arrest and detention of persons taking fruits and vegetables.
Status: in_force

Every deputy sheriff, town or city sergeant, town constable, or police officer, who shall discover any person or persons in the act of taking and carrying away any growing fruit or vegetables as prohibited by § 11-44-2, shall arrest that person or persons and detain the person or persons in custody until a complaint can be made against him, her, or them for the offense for which he, she, or they shall have been arrested and until he, she, or they be taken on a warrant issued upon the complaint; provided, that the arrest and detention without a warrant shall not continue longer than the space of twenty-four (24) hours.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-41-31 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-41 / Section 11-41-31
§ 11-41-31. Pension revocation.
Status: in_force

(a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any person who is convicted or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to any offense, and the offense is related to his or her public office of employment pursuant to §36-10.1-2, the judge, as part of any sentence imposed, may revoke or reduce any retirement or any benefit or payment to which the public official or public employee is otherwise entitled under titles 36, 16, 45, and 8, under chapter 30 of title 28, under chapter 43 of title 31 or under chapter 28 of title 42.

(b)(1) In determining whether the retirement or other benefit shall be revoked or reduced the court shall consider and make a finding on the following factors:

(i) The fact that the allowance of retirement or other benefits or payments for service under this title, under title 16, under title 45, under title 8, under chapter 30 of title 28, under chapter 43 of title 31, and under chapter 28 of title 42 presumes and requires that the service shall have been honorably rendered;

(ii) The severity of the crime related to public office or public employment of which the public official or public employee has been convicted or to which the public official or public employee has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere;

(iii) The amount of monetary loss suffered by the public officials or public employees employer or by any other person as a result of the subject crime related to public office or public employment;

(iv) The degree of public trust reposed in the subject public official or public employee by virtue of his or her public office or public employment; and

(v) Any other factors that, in the judgment of the superior court, justice may require.

(2) If the superior court determines that the retirement or other benefits or payments of a public official or public employee should be revoked or reduced under this chapter, it may, in its discretion and after taking into consideration the status of the pension as marital property and the financial needs and resources of any innocent spouse, dependent and/or designated beneficiaries of the public official or public employee, order that some or all of the revoked or reduced benefits or payments be paid to any innocent spouse, dependent or beneficiary as justice may require.

(3) If the court determines that the retirement or other benefits or payments of a public official or public employee should not be revoked or reduced under this chapter, it shall order that the retirement or other benefits or payments be made to the public official or public employee.

(c) Prior to revoking or reducing the benefit, the court shall order a pre-sentence report pursuant to §12-19-6.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit an innocent party from notifying the court by motion of an interest in the pension benefit.

(e) For purposes of this chapter, domestic partner shall be defined as a person who, prior to the decedents death, was in an exclusive, intimate and committed relationship with the decedent, and who certifies by affidavit that their relationship met the following qualifications:

(1) Both partners were at least eighteen (18) years of age and were mentally competent to contract;

(2) Neither partner was married to anyone else;

(3) Partners were not related by blood to a degree which would prohibit marriage in the state of Rhode Island;

(4) Partners resided together and had resided together for at least one year at the time of death; and

(5) Partners were financially interdependent as evidenced by at least two (2) of the following:

(i) Domestic partnership agreement or relationship contract;

(ii) Joint mortgage or joint ownership of primary residence;

(iii) Two (2) of: (A) joint ownership of motor vehicle; (B) joint checking account; (C) joint credit account; (D) joint lease; and/or

(iv) The domestic partner had been designated as a beneficiary for the decedents will, retirement contract or life insurance.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-49-8 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-49 / Section 11-49-8
§ 11-49-8. Defense not available.
Status: in_force

In any prosecution for violation of this chapter, the state is not required to establish and it is no defense that a person, other than the defendant, who violated this chapter has not been convicted, apprehended, or identified.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-50-2 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-50 / Section 11-50-2
§ 11-50-2. Posting of available prizes  Rules and winners.
Status: in_force

Every person, firm, or corporation engaging in any promotion or advertising game or contest of the type set forth in § 11-50-1 shall cause to be posted in a conspicuous and prominent location in every retail establishment offering the opportunity to participate in the game or contest the minimum number and value of prizes available to be won over a stated period of time and slated geographic area, and the rules and regulations pertaining to the promotion or advertising scheme or plan and the names and addresses of prize winners. Failure to cause this posting shall be a misdemeanor.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-52-8 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-52 / Section 11-52-8
§ 11-52-8. Tampering with computer source documents.
Status: in_force

(a) Whoever intentionally or knowingly conceals, destroys, or alters or intentionally or knowingly causes another to conceal, destroy, or alter any computer source document used for a computer, computer program, computer system, or computer network, when the computer source document is required to be kept by law, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to the provisions of § 11-52-5.

(b) Whoever intentionally or knowingly conceals, destroys, or alters or intentionally, knowingly conceals, destroys, or alters or intentionally or knowingly causes another to conceal, destroy, or alter any computer source document used for a computer, computer program, computer system, or computer network, when the computer source document is required to be kept by law, with the intent to obstruct an official investigation by any state agency authorized by law to conduct any civil or criminal investigation, shall be guilty of a felony and shall be subject to the provisions of § 11-52-5.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-19-45 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-19 / Section 11-19-45
§ 11-19-45. Severability.
Status: in_force

If any section of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of the chapter and the application of the section to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected. The invalidity or unconstitutionality of any section or sections or part of any section or sections of this chapter shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this chapter and to this end the sections of this chapter are severable.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-7-9 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-7 / Section 11-7-9
§ 11-7-9. Corruption of sports participant or official.
Status: in_force

Whoever corrupts or attempts to corrupt a player, coach, manager, trainer, umpire, referee, or other person engaged in playing, arranging, staging, officiating at, or promoting any amateur or professional athletic game or contest or jai alai match to be played or held within the state of Rhode Island, or who corrupts or attempts to corrupt any owner, trainer, groom, jockey, racing official, or other person in any manner engaged in or connected with the running, officiating at or promoting any horse race or dog race run or to be run within the state of Rhode Island by giving, offering, or promising any gift or gratuity whatever, directly or indirectly, with intent to improperly influence the conduct of the person in the playing, running, or carrying out of any athletic game or contest or jai alai match or any horse race, or officiating at the game or contest, whether the offer, promise, gift, or gratuity is made at or away from the playing field, boxing or ice arena, race course or fronton, or other place where the athletic game, contest, or horse race is scheduled to take place with intent to improperly influence the conduct of the person in connection with the proper playing or promoting of the athletic game or contest or jai alai match or officiating at the game, contest or match, or the proper running or promoting of any horse race or dog race or officiating at any horse or dog race, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment of not more than seven (7) years, or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-25-22 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-25 / Section 11-25-22
§ 11-25-22. Escape from custody.
Status: in_force

Any person who shall attempt to escape, or who shall escape, from any lawful custody where a penalty is not otherwise provided by law, shall, upon conviction, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-5-7 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-5 / Section 11-5-7
§ 11-5-7. Assault of schoolteachers, school officials or other school department employees.
Status: in_force

Any person who shall knowingly and willfully strike a schoolteacher, student teacher, school security officer or school administrator, causing bodily injury, while the teacher, student teacher, security officer, administrator, or school department employee is engaged in the performance of his or her duty, shall be deemed to have committed a felony, and shall be imprisoned not exceeding three (3) years, or fined not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500), or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37-3.1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-37 / Section 11-37-3.1
§ 11-37-3.1. Duty to report sexual assault.
Status: in_force

Any person, other than the victim, who knows or has reason to know that a first degree sexual assault or attempted first degree sexual assault is taking place in his or her presence shall immediately notify the state police or the police department of the city or town in which the assault or attempted assault is taking place of the crime.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-25-21 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-25 / Section 11-25-21
§ 11-25-21. Habeas corpus  Training school for youth.
Status: in_force

Whenever a writ of habeas corpus shall issue from either the supreme, superior or family court for the production and appearance before it of a prisoner confined in the training school for youth, the writ shall be delivered to the division of sheriffs. Whenever the writ is issued from any other court, it shall be delivered to the division of sheriffs or to any town sergeant or chief of police or police constable who shall duly present it to the superintendent of the training school for youth. The superintendent shall upon receipt of the writ deliver the prisoner to the custody of the officer. The officer shall take and receive the prisoner into his or her custody, shall duly present him or her before the court pursuant to the commands of the writ, and shall keep and hold the prisoner until by order of the court the prisoner shall be recommitted to the institution or otherwise disposed of. Upon the delivery of the custody of the prisoner by the superintendent to the officer, the superintendent shall endorse the delivery upon the writ, and the officer shall receipt on the books of the training school for youth for the custody. The officer, upon the production of the prisoner in court, shall further endorse that fact on the writ and deliver it to the clerk or (if there is no clerk) the presiding justice; but shall, as an officer of the court, maintain safe custody of the prisoner until he or she is, by further order, recommitted or discharged.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-21-3 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-21 / Section 11-21-3
§ 11-21-3. Tattooing or permanent disfigurement.
Status: in_force

Every person being a student, or being a person in attendance at any public, private, parochial, or military school, college, or other educational institution, who shall tattoo or knowingly and willfully permanently disfigure the body, limbs, or features of any fellow student or person attending the institution by the use of nitrate of silver or any like substance, or by any other means, shall be held guilty of a crime of the degree of mayhem, and shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned not exceeding ten (10) years nor less than one year.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-63-3 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-63 / Section 11-63-3
§ 11-63-3. Penalties for violation.
Status: in_force

Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be subject to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or shall be imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-44-24 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-44 / Section 11-44-24
§ 11-44-24. Blocking or obstructing public rights-of-way to water.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall obstruct or block or cause any obstruction of any public rights-of-way to water areas of the state shall be imprisoned not exceeding one year or be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-32-4 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-32 / Section 11-32-4
§ 11-32-4. Definitions.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms mean:

(1) Malice means an intent to vex, annoy, harm, or injure in any way another person, or to thwart or interfere in any manner with the orderly administration of justice.

(2) Victim means any natural person against whom any crime as defined under the laws of this state or any other state or of the United States is being or has been perpetrated or attempted to be perpetrated.

(3) Witness means any natural person:

(i) Having knowledge of the existence or nonexistence of facts relating to any crime;

(ii) Whose declaration under oath is received or has been received as evidence for any purpose;

(iii) Who has reported any crime to any peace officer, prosecutor, probation or parole officer, correctional officer or judicial officer;

(iv) Who has been served with a subpoena issued under the authority of any court in the state, or of any other state or of the United States; or

(v) Who would be believed by any reasonable person to be an individual described in paragraphs (i)  (iv) of this subdivision.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-27-18 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-27 / Section 11-27-18
§ 11-27-18. Legal Aid Society  Powers of supreme court.
Status: in_force

Nothing in §§ 11-27-1  11-27-17 shall be deemed to apply to the Legal Aid Society of Rhode Island, or be construed in any way as an attempt to affect or as affecting the right of the supreme court to regulate and discipline members of the bar for breach of their duties.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-18-15 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-18 / Section 11-18-15
§ 11-18-15. Imitation of trade symbols of fuels and lubricants.
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation, to disguise or camouflage that persons or firms own equipment, by imitating the design, symbol or trade name of the equipment under which recognized brands of liquid fuels, lubricating oils, and similar products are generally marketed.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-18-26 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-18 / Section 11-18-26
§ 11-18-26. Obtaining food or accommodations with intent to defraud.
Status: in_force

(a) Every person who shall obtain credit or accommodation at any hotel, inn, restaurant, boarding house, or lodging house by means of any false pretense, or who, with intent to defraud the proprietor, or the proprietors agent or servant, obtains any credit or accommodation at a hotel, inn, restaurant, boarding house or lodging house, without paying, shall be fined not exceeding twenty dollars ($20.00) or be imprisoned not exceeding thirty (30) days.

(b) Proof that lodging, food or other accommodation was obtained by false or fictitious showing or pretense of baggage, or that the person refused or neglected to pay for the food, lodging, or other accommodation, or removed or caused to be removed his or her baggage from the premises, without paying for the food, lodging, or other accommodation, shall be presumptive evidence of the fraudulent intent referred to in subsection (a) of this section; but this provision shall not apply where there has been a special agreement for delay in payment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-14-6 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-14 / Section 11-14-6
§ 11-14-6. Impersonation of a public utility company employee.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall falsely assume or pretend to be an employee of a public utility company, or the employee of a nonregulated power producer, and act as such so as to gain or attempt to gain entry into any residence or business, for any purpose, shall be imprisoned not exceeding six (6) months, or be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500), or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-25-3 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-25 / Section 11-25-3
§ 11-25-3. Fatal assault by maximum custodial inmate deemed murder.
Status: in_force

In case the warden or any under-keeper or any other officer of a maximum custodial unit is killed in any assault by a prisoner, the killing shall be deemed to be a murder.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-8 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-9 / Section 11-9-8
§ 11-9-8. Appropriations for prevention of cruelty to children.
Status: in_force

The general assembly shall annually appropriate any sum that it may deem necessary, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be expended by the department of children, youth and families for the purpose of preventing cruelty to children, and the department may, in its discretion, pay the sum to the Childrens Friend and Service for that purpose, and the state controller is authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of the sum or so much of it as may be required upon receipt by the state controller of proper vouchers approved by the director of the department.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-41-9 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-41 / Section 11-41-9
§ 11-41-9. Theft of poultry  Receiving stolen poultry.
Status: in_force

Every person who steals poultry from any building or enclosure in which poultry are kept or confined, or whoever shall receive poultry, knowing it to have been stolen, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one year or by fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or by both. One-half (Â½) of any fine imposed under this section shall inure to the complainant.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37-4 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-37 / Section 11-37-4
§ 11-37-4. Second degree sexual assault.
Status: in_force

A person is guilty of a second-degree sexual assault if he or she engages in sexual contact with another person and if any of the following circumstances exist:

(1) The accused knows or has reason to know that the victim is mentally incapacitated, mentally disabled, or physically helpless.

(2) The accused uses force, element of surprise, or coercion.

(3) The accused engages in the medical treatment or examination of the victim for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification, or stimulation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-18-3 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-18 / Section 11-18-3
§ 11-18-3. Fraudulent notice to newspaper of birth, marriage, or death.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall willfully send to the publishers of any newspaper, for the purpose of publication, a fraudulent notice of the birth of a child or of the marriage of any persons or of the death of any person, shall be fined not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-49.1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-47 / Section 11-47-49.1
§ 11-47-49.1. Firing in Blackstone Valley Flood Plain prohibited.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall hunt or discharge any firearm within the Blackstone Valley Flood Plains or Marshes, also known as the Valley Marshes, shall be subject to:

(1) A fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) for the first offense;

(2) A fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), or imprisonment for sixty (60) days, or both, for the second offense; and

(3) For any subsequent offense a fine of not less than one hundred fifty dollars ($150) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), or imprisonment for ninety (90) days, or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-56 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-47 / Section 11-47-56
§ 11-47-56. Constitutionality.
Status: in_force

If any part of this chapter is for any reason declared void, its invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37-13.1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-37 / Section 11-37-13.1
§ 11-37-13.1. Recording  Grand jury testimony  Child assault.
Status: in_force

(a) In any grand jury proceeding investigating a sexual assault alleged to have been committed against a child, a recording of a statement from the alleged victim who is sixteen (16) years of age or younger at the time of the proceeding shall be admissible into evidence at the proceeding if:

(1) The statement is sworn to under oath by the child, and the significance of the oath is explained to the child;

(2) The recording is both visual and aural and is recorded on film or videotape or by other electronic means;

(3) The recording equipment was capable of making an accurate recording, the operator of the equipment was competent, and the recording is accurate and has not been altered;

(4) Every voice on the recording is identified;

(5) The statement was not made in response to questioning calculated to lead the child to make a particular statement;

(6) The person conducting the interview is an attorney in the department of the attorney general or another person chosen by the attorney general to make the proceeding less intimidating to the child, and the interviewer is available to testify at the proceeding;

(7) The child is available to testify if requested by the grand jurors; and

(8) The recording is made a part of the record of the grand jury.

(b) [Deleted by P.L. 2022, ch. 214, § 1 and P.L. 2022, ch. 215, § 1.]
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-18-6 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-18 / Section 11-18-6
§ 11-18-6. False financial statement to obtain loan or credit.
Status: in_force

No person shall knowingly make or cause to be made, either directly or indirectly, or through any agency whatsoever, any false statement in writing, with intent that it shall be relied upon, respecting the financial condition, or means or ability to pay, of himself or herself, or any other person, firm, or corporation in whom he or she is interested, or for whom he or she is acting, for the purpose of procuring in any form whatsoever, either the delivery of personal property, the payment of cash, the making of a loan or credit, the extension of a credit, the discount of an account receivable, or the making, acceptance, discount, sale, or endorsement of a bill of exchange, or promissory note, for the benefit of either himself or herself or of such person, firm, or corporation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-32-2 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-32 / Section 11-32-2
§ 11-32-2. False report of crime.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall knowingly make or cause to be made a false statement of a crime, either oral or written, with intent that it be relied upon by a police officer of any city or town or by any member of the state police, shall be deemed guilty of obstructing an officer and shall be imprisoned not exceeding one year and/or be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500), and shall in addition to this imprisonment and/or fine be ordered to make restitution to the person falsely accused of a crime for any damage which the person sustained as a result of the false complaint.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-5.4 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-47 / Section 11-47-5.4
§ 11-47-5.4. Surrender of firearms after domestic violence offenses.
Status: in_force

(a) A plea of nolo contendere, resulting in a filing or probation or conviction shall prohibit the defendant from purchasing, carrying, transporting, or having in his or her possession any firearm. Upon such a plea or conviction, the court shall order the defendant to surrender all firearms owned by the person or in the persons possession as described in this section.

(1) Surrender shall be made within twenty-four (24) hours of prohibition to the Rhode Island state police or local law enforcement or to a licensed gun dealer. The arresting law enforcement agency shall be immediately notified by the court of the order to surrender firearms. A law enforcement agency or licensed gun dealer taking possession of a firearm shall issue a proof of surrender to the person surrendering the firearm. The proof of surrender must include the name of the person, the date of surrender, and the serial number, manufacturer, and model of all surrendered firearms.

(2) A defendant transporting a firearm to surrender in accordance with this section shall not be liable to prosecution under §§ 11-47-5(d) or 11-47-8.

(3) The defendant shall, within forty-eight (48) hours after being served with the order, either:

(i) File a copy of proof of surrender with the court of jurisdiction, and attest that all firearms owned by the person or in the persons possession at the time of plea or conviction have been surrendered in accordance with this section and that the person currently owns no firearms and has no firearms in his or her possession; or

(ii) Attest that, at the time of plea or conviction, the person owned no firearms and had no firearms in their possession, and that the person currently owns no firearms and has no firearms in his or her possession.

(4) The court of jurisdictions copy of proof of surrender shall be kept under seal and shall not be part of the public record.

(5) The Rhode Island state police are authorized to develop rules, regulations and procedures pertaining to the storage of firearms that are surrendered pursuant to this section. The Rhode Island state police may consult with the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association in developing rules and procedures. Law enforcement agencies and departments shall observe due care in the receipt and storage of any firearm surrendered pursuant to this section. No law enforcement agency shall dispose of any firearm surrendered pursuant to this section unless that firearm is abandoned as provided in this section. The Rhode Island state police may consult with the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association in developing rules and procedures.

(6) A firearm surrendered to the Rhode Island state police or a local police department under this section shall be deemed abandoned if:

(i) Six (6) years have passed from the date of the completion of the defendants sentence for an offense enumerated in § 11-47-5(a)(4); and

(ii) During the two (2) years following the six-year (6) period described in subsection (a)(6)(i) of this section, the Rhode Island state police or local police department has provided notice to the defendant, on at least two (2) separate occasions, that if the firearm is not reclaimed it shall be disposed of; and

(iii) After the two-year (2) period described in subsection (a)(6)(ii) of this section and after notice to the defendant, the defendant fails to reclaim the firearm.

(7) The Rhode Island state police may dispose of an abandoned firearm at any time, provided that no disposal shall occur while any appeal of the conviction for a crime enumerated in § 11-47-5(a)(4) is pending and provided that the owner of the firearm receives any financial value generated from its disposal less the cost associated with disposing of the firearm.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37-3 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-37 / Section 11-37-3
§ 11-37-3. Penalty for first degree sexual assault.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall commit sexual assault in the first degree shall be imprisoned for a period not less than ten (10) years and may be imprisoned for life.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-57-1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-57 / Section 11-57-1
§ 11-57-1. Violent crime in aid of racketeering.
Status: in_force

Every person who either: (1) as consideration for anything of pecuniary value from a person or persons engaged in racketeering activity as defined in chapter 15 of title 7; or (2) as the means of gaining entrance to or maintaining or increasing his financial position in an enterprise in violation of chapter 15 of title 7; commits murder, kidnapping, mayhem, assault with a dangerous weapon, or assault resulting in serious bodily injury, or threatens a person with the commission of such an offense against him or her, or attempts or conspires to commit that offense, shall be guilty of a felony and shall be sentenced, in addition to the sentence for the offense, to a term of imprisonment of not less than two (2) years and not more than ten (10) years, a fine of not more than ten thousand ($10,000) dollars, or both. A term of imprisonment imposed pursuant to this section shall be served consecutively to any other sentence of imprisonment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-52-4.1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-52 / Section 11-52-4.1
§ 11-52-4.1. Computer trespass.
Status: in_force

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to use a computer or computer network without authority and with the intent to:

(1) Temporarily or permanently remove, halt, or otherwise disable any computer data, computer programs, or computer software from a computer or computer network;

(2) Cause a computer to malfunction regardless of how long the malfunction persists;

(3) Alter or erase any computer data, computer programs, or computer software;

(4) Effect the creation or alteration of a financial instrument or of an electronic transfer of funds;

(5) Cause physical injury to the property of another;

(6) Make or cause to be made an unauthorized copy, in any form, including, but not limited to, any printed or electronic form of computer data, computer programs, or computer software residing in, communicated by, or produced by a computer or computer network;

(7) Forge e-mail header information or other Internet routine information for the purpose of sending unsolicited bulk electronic mail through or into the facilities of an electronic mail service provider or its subscribers; or

(8) To sell, give or otherwise distribute or possess with the intent to sell, give or distribute software which is designed to facilitate or enable the forgery of electronic mail header information or other Internet routing information for the purpose of sending unsolicited bulk electronic mail through or into the facilities of an electronic mail service provider or its subscribers.

(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to interfere with or prohibit terms or conditions in a contract or license related to computers, computer data, computer networks, computer operations, computer programs, computer services, or computer software or to create any liability by reason of terms or conditions adopted by, or technical measures implemented by, a Rhode Island-based electronic mail service provider to prevent the transmission of unsolicited bulk electronic mail in violation of this chapter. Whoever violates this section shall be guilty of a felony and shall be subject to the penalties set forth in § 11-52-2. If the value is five hundred dollars ($500) or less, then the person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and may be punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-41-4 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-41 / Section 11-41-4
§ 11-41-4. Obtaining property by false pretenses or personation.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall obtain from another designedly, by any false pretense or pretenses, any money, goods, wares, or other property, with intent to cheat or defraud, and every person who shall personate another or who shall falsely represent himself or herself to be the agent or servant of another and shall receive any money or other property intended to be delivered to the person so personated, or to the alleged principal or master of that agent or servant, shall be deemed guilty of larceny.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37-8.7 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-37 / Section 11-37-8.7
§ 11-37-8.7. Parole of violators.
Status: in_force

In the case of any person convicted and imprisoned for an offense under §§ 11-37-8.1  11-37-8.3, it shall be required that:

(1) The department of attorney general or local prosecutor be informed by the parole board ninety (90) days prior to a parole hearing of the date of hearing, and the attorney general or local prosecutor provide the parole board with a complete statement of circumstances surrounding a conviction within forty-five (45) days prior to the scheduled parole hearing date.

(2) The parole board shall notify the victim and his or her family of a scheduled parole hearing at least forty-five (45) days prior to the date of hearing, and the victim and/or family shall be permitted an opportunity to provide a statement for review by the parole board.

(3) The convicted person shall be examined prior to parole by one independent psychiatrist to determine whether the person is a continued danger to children.

(4) The convicted person shall receive outpatient treatment at his or her own expense after parole or release from hospitalization for a period of time to be set by the parole board, and the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals shall oversee and provide these services. Any person willfully violating this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall serve not more than one year imprisonment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-18-33 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-18 / Section 11-18-33
§ 11-18-33. Defrauding the administration of a drug or alcohol test.
Status: in_force

(a) As used in this section, defraud the administration of a drug or alcohol test means to submit a substance that purports to be from a person other than its actual source, or purports to have been excreted or collected at a time other than when it was actually excreted or collected, or to otherwise engage in conduct intended to produce a false or misleading outcome of a test for the presence of alcohol or a chemical, drug or controlled dangerous substance, or metabolite of a drug or controlled dangerous substance, in the human body. It shall specifically include, but not be limited to, the furnishing of urine with the purpose that the urine be submitted for urinalysis as a true specimen of a person.

(b) Any person who offers for sale or rental, or who manufactures, markets, sells, transfers or gives to any person, any instrument or tool, devise or substance adapted, designed or commonly used to defraud the administration of a drug or alcohol test with the intent to defraud the administration, is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to imprisonment for up to one year and a fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.

(c) Any person who knowingly defrauds the administration of a drug or alcohol test that is administered as a condition of monitoring a person on bail, in custody or on parole, probation or pretrial intervention, or any other form of supervision administered in connection with a criminal offense or juvenile delinquency matter, is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to imprisonment for up to one year and a fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-22-2 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-22 / Section 11-22-2
§ 11-22-2. Injuries to road signs  Advertising on highway.
Status: in_force

A person who willfully or maliciously: (1) displaces, removes, injures, destroys, or places a political advertisement on a mile board, mile stone, danger sign or signal, or guide sign or post, or any inscription on it, lawfully within a public highway; (2) in any manner paints, prints, places, puts, or affixes, or causes to be painted, printed, placed, or affixed, any business, commercial advertisement on or to any stone, tree, fence, stump, pole, building, or other object which is the property of another, without first obtaining the written consent of the owner, or (3) in any manner paints, prints, places, puts, or affixes, or causes to be painted, placed, or affixed, an advertisement on or to any stone, tree, fence, stump, pole, mile board, mile stone, danger sign, danger signal, guide sign, guide post, billboard, building, or other object within the limits of a public highway, without first obtaining the written consent of the chief of police of the city or town in which the highway is located; is punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), or by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) days, or both. In addition, the person shall be required to pay any and all expenses incurred in the repair or replacement of the mile board, mile stone, danger sign or signal, or guide sign or post. Any advertisement in or upon a public highway in violation of the provisions of this section may be taken down, removed or destroyed by anyone. Any and all costs incurred by the state of Rhode Island due to damages/loss under this section shall be fully reimbursed by the party or parties causing the damage.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-36-2 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-36 / Section 11-36-2
§ 11-36-2. Unauthorized stopping of train.
Status: in_force

Whoever willfully or maliciously stops, or causes to be stopped, a train on a railroad for the purpose of entering, leaving, or wantonly delaying it shall be fined not less than five dollars ($5.00) nor more than fifty dollars ($50.00).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-25-6 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-25 / Section 11-25-6
§ 11-25-6. Officer negligently allowing escape.
Status: in_force

Every jailer or other officer, who shall be convicted of negligently suffering any prisoner in his or her custody upon conviction or upon any criminal charge to escape, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-11-1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-11 / Section 11-11-1
§ 11-11-1. Disturbance of public assemblies generally.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall willfully interrupt or disturb any town or ward meeting, any assembly of people met for religious worship, any military funeral or memorial service, any public or private school, any meeting lawfully and peaceably held for purposes of moral, literary or scientific improvement, or any other lawful meeting, exhibition or entertainment, either within or without the place where the meeting or school is held, shall be imprisoned not exceeding one year or be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-11-5 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-11 / Section 11-11-5
§ 11-11-5. Profanity.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall be guilty of profane swearing and cursing shall be fined not exceeding five dollars ($5.00).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-17-1.1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-17 / Section 11-17-1.1
§ 11-17-1.1. Forgery  Public assistance check or authorization.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person who shall knowingly forge or cause to be forged one or more public assistance benefit check or authorization issued pursuant to chapter 6 of title 40, when the total value of the check or authorization so forged or caused to be forged in any period of twelve (12) consecutive months exceeds five hundred dollars ($500), shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.

(b) Any person who shall knowingly forge or cause to be forged any public assistance benefit check or authorization issued pursuant to chapter 6 of title 40, when the value of the check or authorization forged or caused to be forged shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500), shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or both.

(c) All criminal actions for any violation of this section shall be prosecuted by the attorney general.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-32-5 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-32 / Section 11-32-5
§ 11-32-5. Intimidation of witnesses and victims of crimes.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person who, by expressly or impliedly threatening to commit any unlawful act, maliciously and knowingly communicates with another person with the specific intent to intimidate a victim of a crime or a witness in any criminal proceeding with respect to that persons participation in any criminal proceeding shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

(b) Any person who, with the specific intent to intimidate a victim of a crime or a witness in any criminal proceeding with respect to that persons participation in any criminal proceeding, causes a physical injury to or damages the property of any person or expressly or impliedly threatens to cause physical injury to or damage to the property of any person, or, with specific intent to intimidate, acts for pecuniary gain shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or imprisoned not more than five (5) years, or both.

(c) As used in this section, criminal proceeding means the filing of a criminal complaint, any grand jury proceedings, any trial or hearing conducted in any court relating to a criminal matter, any proceeding before the parole board or any official inquiry into an alleged criminal violation.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent an attorney from interviewing any witness or victim or from otherwise investigating a matter on behalf of a client in an otherwise lawful manner.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-24-8 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-24 / Section 11-24-8
§ 11-24-8. Civil action for discrimination against armed forces.
Status: in_force

Any person who is debarred from the enjoyment, contrary to the provision of § 11-24-7, shall be entitled to recover, in a civil action, from any corporation, association, or person guilty of the violation, his or her actual damages and one hundred dollars ($100) in addition, and evidence that the person debarred was at the time sober, orderly, and able and willing to pay for enjoyment in accordance with the rates fixed therefor for civilians shall be prima facie evidence in an action that he or she was debarred on account of his or her wearing the uniform or being in the military service.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37-11 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-37 / Section 11-37-11
§ 11-37-11. Corroboration of victims testimony unnecessary.
Status: in_force

The testimony of the victim need not be corroborated in prosecutions under this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-19-41 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-19 / Section 11-19-41
§ 11-19-41. Police regulation of bingo and permitted games of chance.
Status: in_force

The division of state police shall have the power and authority to license, regulate, supervise and exercise general control over the operation of bingo and permitted games of chance including, but not limited to, the conduct of permitted games of chance, the distribution of prizes, and the use and licensing of equipment specifically designed to be utilized to conduct bingo and permitted games of chance, as well as the licensing of persons, firms, corporations in the business of the sale and rental of equipment concerning bingo and permitted games of chance. The Rhode Island state police shall have the power and authority to investigate as to the direct or indirect ownership or control of any licenses and to revoke or suspend any license for just cause after a hearing.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-12-8 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-12 / Section 11-12-8
§ 11-12-8. Leaving state to fight by appointment.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall, by previous appointment or engagement, leave this state and engage in a fight with another person outside the limits of this state shall be imprisoned not more than five (5) years or be fined not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000), and may be indicted or charged by information, tried, convicted and sentenced in any county in this state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-66-1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-66 / Section 11-66-1
§ 11-66-1. Interference with fire hydrants.
Status: in_force

Every person or entity engaged who for the purposes of commercial activity, who willfully or fraudulently injures or knowingly allows to be injured any fire hydrant or dry hydrant, so called as constructed and maintained by a fire company or district, connected with or belonging to any public waterworks or water service owned and furnished by the city of Providence or willfully tampers or meddles with any other of the appliances or appurtenances connected with or belonging to the public waterworks or water service owned and furnished by the city of Providence in a manner that causes loss or damage, shall be fined not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000), nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000).

This chapter shall not apply to any person who is under the age of eighteen (18) years.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-70-1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-70 / Section 11-70-1
§ 11-70-1. False representation of military status prohibited  Stolen valor.
Status: in_force

(a) A person commits the crime of stolen valor if the person knowingly, with the intent to obtain money or property:

(1) Fraudulently represents themself to be an active member or veteran of the United States Navy, Army, Air Force, Marines, Space Force, or Coast Guard, including armed forces reserves and National Guard, through the unauthorized manufacture, sale, or use of military regalia or gear, including the wearing of military uniforms, or the use of falsified military identification, and obtains money or property through such fraudulent representation; or

(2) Fraudulently represents himself or herself to be a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross, Silver Star, Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, Combat Action Badge, Combat Medical Badge, Combat Action Ribbon, or Air Force Combat Action Medal, and obtains money or property through such fraudulent representation.

(b) A person who commits the crime of stolen valor is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one year or by a fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.

(c) Any monies collected pursuant to this chapter shall be forwarded to the office of the adjutant general to be allocated to the Rhode Island military family relief fund established pursuant to § 30-3-41.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-5-10.4 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-5 / Section 11-5-10.4
§ 11-5-10.4. Assault on persons 60 years of age or older by caretaker causing serious bodily injury.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person who shall commit an assault or battery, or both, upon a person sixty (60) years of age or older, causing serious bodily injury, and who was, at the time of the assault and battery, responsible for the care and treatment of the victim, shall be deemed to have committed a felony and shall be imprisoned for not less than two (2) years but not more than twenty (20) years, or fined not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both. Further, if at the time of the assault and battery the person committing the act was employed by a health care facility that either condoned the act or attempted to conceal it, the health care facility shall be fined not exceeding fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000). Every person so convicted shall be ordered to make restitution to the victim of the offense or to perform up to five hundred (500) hours of public community restitution work or attend violence counseling and/or substance abuse counseling, or any combination of them imposed by the sentencing judge. The court may not waive the obligation to make restitution and/or public community restitution work. The restitution and/or public community restitution work shall be in addition to any fine or sentence which may be imposed and not in lieu of the fine or sentence.

(b) Serious bodily injury means physical injury that:

(1) Creates a substantial risk of death;

(2) Causes protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily part, member or organ; or

(3) Causes serious permanent disfigurement.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37-11.2 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-37 / Section 11-37-11.2
§ 11-37-11.2. Speedy trial.
Status: in_force

In any action under this chapter involving a child victim age fourteen (14) years or under or a victim sixty-five (65) years or older, the court and the attorney generals office shall take appropriate action to ensure a speedy trial to minimize the length of time the victim must endure the stress of involvement in the proceeding. In ruling on any motion or request for a delay or continuance of proceedings, the court shall consider any adverse impact the delay or continuance may have on the well-being of the victim or witness. This provision establishes a right to a speedy trial to the victim and shall not be construed as creating any additional rights to the defendant.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-4-8 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-4 / Section 11-4-8
§ 11-4-8. Arson  Seventh degree.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall make a bonfire in any public street, road, square, land or rotary, without special permission from the local governing body, shall be fined not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100). No complaint for a violation of any of the provisions of this section shall be sustained unless it shall be brought within thirty (30) days after the commission of the offense, and all fines for the violation shall inure one-half (Â½) of the fine to the complainant and one-half (Â½) of the fine to the state. The local governing body may appoint a designee to grant permission under the provisions of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-13.8_11-9-13.8 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-9 / Section 11-9-13.8_11-9-13.8
§ 11-9-13.8. Prohibitions applicable to license holders and their employees and agents. [Effective until April 1, 2026.]11-9-13.8. Prohibitions applicable to license holders and their employees and agents. [Effective April 1, 2026.]
Status: in_force

A person holding a license issued under chapter 20 of title 44 and/or § 23-1-56, or an employee or agent of that person, is prohibited from selling, distributing, or delivering a tobacco product, including an electronic nicotine-delivery system product:

(1) To any individual who is under twenty-one (21) years of age; or

(2) In any form other than an original, factory-wrapped package as sealed and certified by the manufacturer; or

(3) As a single-cigarette sale (§ 44-20-31) or as a sale of cigarettes by the individual piece known as loosies.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-18-18 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-18 / Section 11-18-18
§ 11-18-18. Penalty for violations with respect to fuels and lubricants.
Status: in_force

Any person, firm, or corporation or any officer, agent, servant, or employee who shall violate any provision of §§ 11-18-13  11-18-17 shall be fined not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than three hundred dollars ($300), or be imprisoned ninety (90) days, or shall suffer both fine and imprisonment, and each separate sale or attempt to sell in violation of these provisions shall be deemed a separate offense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-19 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-47 / Section 11-47-19
§ 11-47-19. Machine gun manufacturers licenses or permits.
Status: in_force

The attorney general may issue to any person, firm, or corporation, engaged in manufacturing in this state, a license or permit to manufacture and sell machine guns and any or all machine gun parts under any regulations that the attorney general may prescribe.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-1-9 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-1 / Section 11-1-9
§ 11-1-9. Soliciting another to commit a crime.
Status: in_force

Every person who solicits another to commit or join in the commission of a felony under the laws of this state shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction shall be subject to the same fine and imprisonment as pertain to the offense which the person did solicit another to commit, provided that imprisonment for the solicitation shall not exceed ten (10) years.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-19-36 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-19 / Section 11-19-36
§ 11-19-36. Organizations permitted to conduct other permitted games of chance.
Status: in_force

Any charitable organization may promote, carry on, or conduct any permitted game of chance authorized by the division of state police in connection with which prizes or prize monies are offered or awarded, provided as follows:

(1) The game is conducted by members of the organization.

(2) No person in the actual or constructive management and control of the game receives any compensation for services connected to the game.

(3) The entire net receipts of the game, including the charges for admission to and participation in the game, are applied solely to the bona fide charitable purposes of the organization.

(4) That the organization is granted a license issued pursuant to the provisions of § 11-19-37.

(5) That the provisions of this section shall not apply to that lottery commonly known as a twenty-week club or a raffle conducted by a charitable organization.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-13.21 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-9 / Section 11-9-13.21
§ 11-9-13.21. Signs concerning sales of kratom and kratom products to individuals under the age of twenty-one (21). [Effective April 1, 2026.]
Status: in_force

(a) The department of health shall provide to retail kratom and kratom products dealers signs concerning the prohibition of sales to individuals under twenty-one (21) years of age. This sign, or an exact duplicate of it made privately, shall be displayed in all locations where kratom or kratom products are sold.

(b) Signs provided by the department of health or an exact duplicate of it made privately, shall:

(1) Contain in red bold lettering a minimum of three-eighths inch ( ³) high on a white background the following wording in both English and Spanish:

Each red letter shall feature a visible black border.

(2) Contain the phone number at the department of health, where violations of chapter 1 of title 23 can be reported, in addition to any other information required by the department of health.

(3) Be displayed prominently for public view wherever kratom or kratom products are sold including at each cash register, or any other place from which kratom or kratom products are sold. The signs shall be available electronically in both English and Spanish online on the department of healths website.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-5.2 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-9 / Section 11-9-5.2
§ 11-9-5.2. Immunity from liability.
Status: in_force

Any person participating in good faith in the making of a report pursuant to this chapter shall have immunity from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be incurred or imposed. Any such participant shall have the same immunity with respect to participation in any judicial proceeding resulting from a report.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-25-7 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-25 / Section 11-25-7
§ 11-25-7. Rescue of prisoner.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall set at liberty or rescue, either by force or stratagem, any person convicted of any crime or offense or in the custody of any officer upon any criminal charge, or confined in any jail, lock-up, police station or other place of detention upon any criminal charge, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-19-32.1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-19 / Section 11-19-32.1
§ 11-19-32.1. Senior citizens housing  Bingo allowed.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, any organization of senior citizens may promote, carry on or conduct within their own senior citizens housing project, a bingo game, with total daily prizes not to exceed four hundred dollars ($400). The game shall be for recreational purposes and shall be open only to senior citizens who are residents of the housing project where the game is held and their guests. Bingo games shall be limited to three (3) days per calendar week and shall be operated and managed solely by residents of the housing projects. Admission to a bingo game shall only be by admission ticket which may be purchased only by a resident. Each resident shall be allowed to purchase one ticket for a guest. The guest ticket must clearly indicate that the holder is a guest and must be purchased at least three (3) hours prior to the start of the bingo game.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-53 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-47 / Section 11-47-53
§ 11-47-53. Limitation of prosecutions under §§ 11-47-49  11-47-52  Fines.
Status: in_force

No complaint for a violation of any of the provisions of §§ 11-47-49  11-47-52 shall be sustained unless brought within thirty (30) days after the commission of the offense, and all fines for the violation shall inure to the state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-5-10.3 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-5 / Section 11-5-10.3
§ 11-5-10.3. Assault on persons 60 years of age or older by caretaker causing bodily injury.
Status: in_force

Any person who shall commit an assault and battery upon a person sixty (60) years of age or older, causing bodily injury, and who was, at the time of the assault and battery, responsible for the care and treatment of the victim, shall be deemed to have committed a felony and shall be imprisoned not exceeding five (5) years, or fined not exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), or both. Further, if at the time of the assault and battery the person committing the act was employed by a health care facility that either condoned the act or attempted to conceal it, the health care facility shall be fined not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-29-1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-29 / Section 11-29-1
§ 11-29-1. Penalty for mutilation or disabling.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall voluntarily, maliciously or of purpose put out an eye, slit the nose, ear, or lip, or cut off, bite off, or disable any limb or member of another, shall be imprisoned not exceeding twenty (20) years nor less than one year.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-12-1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-12 / Section 11-12-1
§ 11-12-1. Engaging in duel.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall voluntarily engage in a duel with any dangerous weapon, to the hazard of life, shall be imprisoned not exceeding seven (7) years nor less than one year.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-49-4 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-49 / Section 11-49-4
§ 11-49-4. Fraudulent use of credit or debit cards.
Status: in_force

A person who, with intent to defraud the issuer or a person or organization providing money, goods, services, or anything else of value or any other person, uses, for the purpose of obtaining money, goods, services, or anything else of value, a credit card or debit card obtained or retained in violation of this law or a credit card or debit card which they know is forged, expired, or revoked, or who obtains money, goods, services, or anything else of value by representing, without the consent of the cardholder, that they are the holder of a specified card or by representing that they are the holder of a card and the card has not in fact been issued, violates this section and is subject to the penalties set forth in § 11-49-10(a), if the value of all moneys, goods, services, and other things of value obtained in violation of this subsection does not exceed one hundred dollars ($100) in any six-month (6) period. The violator is subject to the penalties set forth in § 11-49-10(b) if the value does exceed one hundred dollars ($100) in any six-month (6) period. Knowledge of revocation shall be presumed to have been received by a cardholder four (4) days after it has been mailed to them at the address set forth on the credit card or debit card or at their last known address by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and, if the address is more than five hundred (500) miles from the place of mailing, by air mail. If the address is located outside the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Canal Zone, or Canada, notice shall be presumed to have been received ten (10) days after mailing by registered or certified mail.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-49-11 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-49 / Section 11-49-11
§ 11-49-11. Chapter not exclusive.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall not be construed to preclude the applicability of any other provision of the criminal law of this state which presently applies or may in the future apply to any transaction which violates this chapter, unless that provision is inconsistent with the terms of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-5-10.1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-5 / Section 11-5-10.1
§ 11-5-10.1. Assault on persons 60 years of age or older causing serious bodily injury.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person who shall commit an assault or battery, or both, upon a person sixty (60) years of age or older, causing serious bodily injury, shall be deemed to have committed a felony and shall be imprisoned for not less than three (3) years but not more than twenty (20) years, or fined not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both. Every person so convicted shall be ordered to make restitution to the victim of the offense or to perform up to five hundred (500) hours of public community restitution work or attend violence counseling and/or substance abuse counseling, or any combination of them imposed by the sentencing judge. The court may not waive the obligation to make restitution and/or public community restitution work. The restitution and/or public community restitution work shall be in addition to any fine or sentence which may be imposed and not in lieu of the fine or sentence.

(b) Serious bodily injury means physical injury that:

(1) Creates a substantial risk of death;

(2) Causes protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily part, member or organ; or

(3) Causes serious permanent disfigurement.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-44-16 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-44 / Section 11-44-16
§ 11-44-16. Removal of gravel from or deposit of debris on Eastons Beach.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall remove any sand or any gravel from any part of Eastons Beach, as defined in § 11-44-18, shall be fined twenty dollars ($20.00) for every offense. Every person who shall deposit or leave on the beach any dead animal, offal, filth, rubbish, or refuse matter, shall be fined twenty dollars ($20.00) for every offense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-6 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-9 / Section 11-9-6
§ 11-9-6. Proceedings against parents of delinquent children unaffected.
Status: in_force

No proceedings instituted under any of the provisions of §§ 11-9-1  11-9-8 shall in any manner affect or be affected by any proceedings which may be instituted under any of the provisions of chapter 9 of title 15.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-17-5 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-17 / Section 11-17-5
§ 11-17-5. Manufacture, repair, or possession of counterfeiting devices.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall engrave, form, make, or mend, or begin to engrave, form, make, or mend any plate, stone, paper, rolling press, or other instrument or material devised, adapted, and designed for the stamping, forging, or making any false, forged, and counterfeited bank bill or note, in imitation of bank bills or notes which have been or shall be issued by any bank which is or hereafter may be established as a bank in this state or elsewhere, or shall have in his or her possession or custody any plate or stone engraved in any part, or any paper, rolling press, or other instrument or material devised, adapted, or designed as provided in this section, with intent to use and employ it or to cause or permit it to be used and employed in making any false and counterfeited bank bill or note, shall be imprisoned not exceeding ten (10) years nor less than two (2) years.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-20 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-47 / Section 11-47-20
§ 11-47-20. Sale or possession of silencers.
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful within this state to manufacture, sell, purchase, or possess any muffler, silencer, or device for deadening or muffling the sound of a firearm when discharged; provided, however, that law enforcement officers utilizing said devices while acting within the scope of their official duties, as tactical teams and under the direct supervision of the police chief or the colonel of the state police or their designee, shall not be in violation of this section. Violations of this section shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year and one day.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-44-8 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-44 / Section 11-44-8
§ 11-44-8. Injury to or interference with water-control structures.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall willfully and maliciously break down, injure, remove, or destroy any dam, reservoir, canal, or trench, or any gate, flume, flash-board, or other appurtenance, or any of the wheels, mill-gear, or machinery of a water-mill, or willfully or wantonly, without color of right, draw off the water contained in a millpond, reservoir, canal, or trench, or willfully and maliciously, without color of right, obstruct the water of a mill-pond, reservoir, canal, or trench from flowing out of it, shall be imprisoned not exceeding five (5) years or be fined not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-25-2.1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-25 / Section 11-25-2.1
§ 11-25-2.1. Assault by a municipal detention inmate.
Status: in_force

Every prisoner, detainee, or other person incarcerated or confined in the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility, created under chapter 54 of title 45 who shall assault the director or other detention center employees, shall be sentenced by the court to imprisonment at the adult correctional institutions, for not less than one year and no more than twenty (20) years. This term shall commence at the expiration of the original term of imprisonment of the prisoner.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-22-7 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-22 / Section 11-22-7
§ 11-22-7. Council authority for location of windmill.
Status: in_force

The city council of any city and town council of any town may, upon petition in writing to them presented, authorize or continue the location of any mill in their discretion at any place within the limits of their respective towns.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-5-2.1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-5 / Section 11-5-2.1
§ 11-5-2.1. Felony assault by use of devices similar in appearance to a firearm.
Status: in_force

(a) Every person who shall make an assault or battery, or both, with any device manufactured and designed to be substantially similar in appearance to a firearm shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years if serious injury results, and in the event that serious bodily injury does not result, punishment shall be imprisonment for not more than three (3) years.

(b) Serious bodily injury means physical injury that:

(1) Creates a substantial risk of death;

(2) Causes protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily part, member or organ; or

(3) Causes serious permanent disfigurement.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-1-1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-1 / Section 11-1-1
§ 11-1-1. Common law offenses not covered by statute.
Status: in_force

Every act and omission which is an offense at common law, and for which no punishment is prescribed by the general laws, may be prosecuted and punished as an offense at common law. Every person who shall be convicted of any offense which is a misdemeanor at common law shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year or be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500). Every person who shall be convicted of any offense which is a felony at common law shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding five (5) years or be fined not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-18-23 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-18 / Section 11-18-23
§ 11-18-23. Defacement or alteration of manufacturers serial number.
Status: in_force

Any person who: (1) willfully removes, defaces, covers, alters, or destroys the manufacturers serial number or any other distinguishing number or identification mark on any machine or any electrical or mechanical device for the purpose of preventing the detection of a crime or defrauding the manufacturer or any seller or any purchaser of the machine or the electrical or mechanical device; or (2) being a dealer in merchandise or the agent, employee, or representative of a dealer, knowingly buys, sells, receives, disposes of, conceals, or knowingly has in his or her possession any machine or any electrical or mechanical device from which the manufacturers serial number or any other distinguishing number or identification mark has been removed, defaced, covered, altered, or destroyed for a purpose specified in subdivision (1) of this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-44-12.1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-44 / Section 11-44-12.1
§ 11-44-12.1. Damage to instrumentality of public transportation.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall willfully cut or deface or otherwise injure any instrumentality of public transportation managed by or belonging to a public corporation shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), or by imprisonment not exceeding thirty (30) days, or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-41-23 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-41 / Section 11-41-23
§ 11-41-23. Larceny of marine equipment.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall steal or attempt to steal any boat, marine motor, marine electronic equipment, marine rescue or safety equipment, or navigational equipment, or who shall fraudulently receive any boat, marine motor, marine electronic equipment, marine safety or navigation equipment, or marine equipment with serial numbers removed, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than ten (10) years, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-23-2 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-23 / Section 11-23-2
§ 11-23-2. Penalties for murder.
Status: in_force

Every person guilty of murder in the first degree shall be imprisoned for life. Every person guilty of murder in the first degree: (1) committed intentionally while engaged in the commission of another capital offense or other felony for which life imprisonment may be imposed; (2) committed in a manner creating a great risk of death to more than one person by means of a weapon or device or substance which would normally be hazardous to the life of more than one person; (3) committed at the direction of another person in return for money or any other thing of monetary value from that person; (4) committed in a manner involving torture or an aggravated battery to the victim; (5) committed against any member of the judiciary, law enforcement officer, corrections employee, assistant attorney general or special assistant attorney general, or firefighter arising from the lawful performance of his or her official duties; (6) committed by a person who at the time of the murder was committed to confinement in the adult correctional institutions or the state reformatory for women upon conviction of a felony; or (7) committed during the course of the perpetration or attempted perpetration of felony manufacture, sale, delivery or other distribution of a controlled substance otherwise prohibited by the provisions of chapter 28 of title 21; shall be imprisoned for life and if ordered by the court pursuant to chapter 19.2 of title 12 that person shall not be eligible for parole from imprisonment. Every person guilty of murder in the second degree shall be imprisoned for not less than ten (10) years and may be imprisoned for life.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-11 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-47 / Section 11-47-11
§ 11-47-11. License or permit to carry concealed pistol or revolver.
Status: in_force

(a) The licensing authorities of any city or town shall, upon application of any person twenty-one (21) years of age or over having a bona fide residence or place of business within the city or town, or of any person twenty-one (21) years of age or over having a bona fide residence within the United States and a license or permit to carry a pistol or revolver concealed upon his or her person issued by the authorities of any other state or subdivision of the United States, issue a license or permit to the person to carry concealed upon his or her person a pistol or revolver everywhere within this state for four (4) years from date of issue, if it appears that the applicant has good reason to fear an injury to his or her person or property or has any other proper reason for carrying a pistol or revolver, and that he or she is a suitable person to be so licensed. The license or permit shall be in triplicate in form to be prescribed by the attorney general and shall bear the fingerprint, photograph, name, address, description, and signature of the licensee and the reason given for desiring a license or permit and in no case shall it contain the serial number of any firearm. The original shall be delivered to the licensee. Any member of the licensing authority, its agents, servants, and employees shall be immune from suit in any action, civil or criminal, based upon any official act or decision, performed or made in good faith in issuing a license or permit under this chapter.

(b) Notwithstanding any other chapter or section of the general laws of the state of Rhode Island, the licensing authority of any city or town shall not provide or release to any individual, firm, association or corporation the name, address, or date of birth of any person who has held or currently holds a license or permit to carry a concealed pistol or revolver. This section shall not be construed to prohibit the release of any statistical data of a general nature relative to age, gender and racial or ethnic background nor shall it be construed to prevent the release of information to parties involved in any prosecution of § 11-47-8 or in response to a lawful subpoena in any criminal or civil action which the person is a party to that action.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-41-3 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-41 / Section 11-41-3
§ 11-41-3. Embezzlement and fraudulent conversion.
Status: in_force

Every official of a financial institution and every officer, agent, clerk, servant, or other person to whom any money or other property shall be entrusted for any specific purpose, and every person acting as executor, administrator, conservator, guardian, receiver, assignee, custodian, or trustee appointed by order, decree or judgment of court, or by deed, will or other instrument in writing, who shall embezzle or fraudulently convert to his or her own use, or who shall take or secrete, with intent to embezzle or fraudulently convert to his or her own use, any money or other property which shall have come into his or her possession or shall be under his or her care or charge by virtue of his or her employment or for that specific purpose or by virtue of his or her acting as executor, administrator, guardian, conservator, receiver, assignee, custodian, or trustee, and every person who shall collect or receive money or property from another for a commission to be retained out of the money or other property so collected or received, and who shall fraudulently retain out of that money or property so collected or received more than the amount of the commission, and shall embezzle or fraudulently convert it to his or her own use, or shall take or secrete it with intent to embezzle or fraudulently to convert the same to his or her own use, shall be deemed guilty of larceny and shall be fined not more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or three (3) times the value of the money or property thus embezzled or converted, whichever is greater, or imprisoned not more than twenty (20) years, or both, except that if the sum or value of the property embezzled is less than one hundred dollars ($100), he or she shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-27-13 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-27 / Section 11-27-13
§ 11-27-13. Visiting attorneys.
Status: in_force

The provisions of §§ 11-27-1, 11-27-2, and 11-27-5  11-27-14 shall not apply to visiting attorneys at law, duly authorized to practice law before the courts of record in another state, while temporarily in this state on legal business, or while permitted to conduct or argue any case in this state according to the rules of practice of the supreme court, but no visiting attorney shall issue or indorse, as attorney, any writ of any court of this state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37-8.5 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-37 / Section 11-37-8.5
§ 11-37-8.5. Identification of victims of child molestation sexual assault.
Status: in_force

(a) All court records which concern the identity of a victim of child molestation sexual assault shall be confidential and shall not be made public.

(b) Every agency of state or local government shall protect the confidentiality of documents containing the identity of victims of child molestation sexual assault.

(c) A defendant charged with child molestation sexual assault may make application to the trial court for an order of disclosure of identifying information concerning the child victim in order to prepare his or her defense. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the disclosure of the victims identity to the defendant at the time of his or her arraignment, provided, that the defendant shall make no disclosure of the victims identity other than to his or her attorney and others directly involved in the preparation of his or her defense. Any disclosure by a defendant other than permitted in this section shall constitute contempt.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-64-3 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-64 / Section 11-64-3
§ 11-64-3. Unauthorized dissemination of indecent material.
Status: in_force

(a) A person is guilty of unauthorized dissemination of a sexually explicit visual image of another person when the person intentionally, by any means, disseminates, publishes, or sells:

(1) A visual image that depicts another identifiable person eighteen (18) years or older engaged in sexually explicit conduct or of the intimate areas of that person including any image created by a digital device or altered by digitization;

(2) The visual image was made, captured, recorded, or obtained under circumstances in which a reasonable person would know or understand that the image was to remain private or created without the consent of the person;

(3) The visual image was disseminated, published, or sold without the consent of the depicted person; and

(4) With knowledge or with reckless disregard for the likelihood that the depicted person will suffer harm, or with the intent to harass, intimidate, threaten, or coerce the depicted person.

(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to:

(1) A visual image that involves voluntary exposure of intimate areas or of sexually explicit conduct in a public or commercial setting, or in a place where a person does not have a reasonable expectation of privacy;

(2) Dissemination made in the public interest, scientific activities, or educational activities;

(3) Dissemination made in the course of a lawful public proceeding;

(4) Dissemination made for purposes of law enforcement, criminal reporting, corrections, legal proceedings, the reporting of unlawful conduct, or for medical treatment; or

(5) Dissemination of an image that constitutes a matter of public concern, such as a matter related to a newsworthy event or related to a public figure.

(c) For the purposes of this section, intimate areas means the naked genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or any portion of the female breast below the top of the areola of a person that the person intended to protect from public view.

(d) A first violation of this section shall be a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, subject to imprisonment of not more than one year, a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both. A second or subsequent violation of this section shall be a felony and, upon conviction, subject to imprisonment for not more than three (3) years, a fine of not more than three thousand dollars ($3,000), or both.

(e) Any person who intentionally threatens to disclose any visual image described in subsection (a) and makes the threat to obtain a benefit in return for not making the disclosure or in connection with the threatened disclosure, shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, be subject to imprisonment for up to five (5) years, a fine of up to five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both.

(f) Any person who demands payment of money, property, services, or anything else of value from a person in exchange for removing any visual image described in subsection (a) from public view shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, be subject to imprisonment for up to five (5) years, a fine of up to five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both.

(g) Those in violation of this section shall not be subject to sex offender registration requirements as set forth in chapter 37.1 of title 11 entitled Sexual Offender Registration and Community Notification Act.

(h) A violation of this section is committed within this state if any conduct that is an element of the offense, or any harm to the depicted person resulting from the offense, occurs in this state.

(i) Nothing in this section shall be construed to impose liability on an interactive computer service, as defined in 47 U.S.C. § 230(f)(2), an information service, as defined in 47 U.S.C. § 153, or a telecommunications service, as defined in § 44-18-7.1, for content provided by another person.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-16-6 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-16 / Section 11-16-6
§ 11-16-6. Poisoning in general.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall knowingly offer, give or entice any other person to take or accept any treat, candy, gift, or food for consumption which is poisonous shall be subject to imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than twenty (20) years and may be fined not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-23-2.2 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-23 / Section 11-23-2.2
§ 11-23-2.2. Penalty for murder in the first degree.
Status: in_force

Every person guilty of murder in the first degree shall serve not less than fifteen (15) years of his or her sentence before being eligible for parole.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-13-1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-13 / Section 11-13-1
§ 11-13-1. Sale, use or possession of fireworks.
Status: in_force

(a) No person shall offer for sale at retail or at wholesale, shall possess or have under his or her control, use or explode, or cause to explode for exhibition or amusement, display fireworks or aerial consumer fireworks unless permits are obtained pursuant to this chapter and chapter 23-28.11. Display fireworks are defined in the American pyrotechnic association standard 87-1 (APA 87-1) 2001 Edition section 2.7.2 and are classified as explosives 1.3G by the U.S. department of transportation (U.S. DOT), UN0335. Aerial consumer fireworks are defined in APA 87-1 2001 Edition section 3.1.2. and are classified 1.4G U.S. DOT, UN 0336. Certain fireworks and devices that are exempt from the definitions of display fireworks and aerial consumer fireworks shall include, but are not limited to, the following: ground-based and hand-held sparkling devices (non-aerial fireworks) as defined in APA 87-1 2001 Edition sections 3.1.1 and 3.5, and include the following: fountains, illuminating torches, wheels, ground spinners, flitter sparklers, sparkers; novelties, which are defined in the APA 87-1 2001 Edition section 3.2 and include the following: party poppers, snappers, toy smoke devices, snakes, glow worms, wire sparklers and dipped sticks; paper caps containing not more than twenty-five hundredths (0.025) grains of explosive mixture ammunition to be consumed by weapons used for sporting and hunting purposes, and model rockets and model rocket engines, designed, sold and used for the purpose of propelling recoverable aero models). The storage, possession, sale, transportation and use of the items in the above reference section that are not included in the definition of display fireworks and aerial consumer fireworks shall be allowed at all times throughout the state for persons at least sixteen (16) years of age. Permits for display fireworks and aerial consumer fireworks for commercial display may be issued in accordance with provisions of the Rhode Island Fire Safety Code, chapters 28.1  28.39 of title 23. Fireworks display of display and aerial consumer fireworks by any municipality, fair association, amusement park, or other organization or group of individuals is permitted, on condition that the display shall be made by a competent operator approved by the local fire authority and shall be of such character as in the opinion of the fire authority will not be hazardous to persons or property; and, provided further, that the foregoing shall not apply the use of display and aerial consumer fireworks by common carriers for signal or illumination purposes, the use of blank cartridges in any show or theater, the use of explosives for blasting, the use of display and aerial consumer fireworks as signals in any athletic or sporting event, the use of display and aerial consumer fireworks for ceremonial or military purposes, the sale of fireworks for shipment out of this state, or the sale of fireworks for any use permitted pursuant to this section, provided the person who sells, stores or transports display and aerial consumer fireworks has a permit as required by the Rhode Island Fire Safety Code, chapters 28.1  28.39 of title 23.

(b) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a felony and shall be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each offense and/or imprisoned for not more than one year for each offense; except that any person using or having in his or her possession without a permit with intent to use display and aerial consumer fireworks with a value of under five hundred dollars ($500) shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) for each offense and/or imprisoned for not more than one year for each offense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-2-2 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-2 / Section 11-2-2
§ 11-2-2. Desertion by leaving state  Decree as evidence.
Status: in_force

Any husband or father who without just cause deserts his wife or minor child by going into another state, and leaves them or any or either of them without making reasonable provisions for their support, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or both. No civil proceeding in any court shall be held to be a bar to a prosecution pursuant to this section for desertion or nonsupport. In a prosecution pursuant to this section for desertion or nonsupport against a husband, a decree or judgment of any court in a proceeding in which the husband appeared or was personally served with process, establishing the right of the wife to live apart, or her freedom to convey and deal with her property, or the right to the custody of the children, shall be admissible and shall be prima facie evidence of that right.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-19-34.1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-19 / Section 11-19-34.1
§ 11-19-34.1. Senior citizens housing  Raffles allowed.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, any organization of senior citizens may promote, carry on, or conduct within their own senior citizens housing project, a lottery, commonly known as a raffle, with total prizes not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500). Raffles shall be for recreational purposes and shall be open only to senior citizens who are residents of the housing project where the game is held. Raffles shall be limited to three (3) times per year and shall be operated and managed solely by residents of the housing projects.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-16-5 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-16 / Section 11-16-5
§ 11-16-5. Poisoning with intent to kill.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall mingle any poison with any food, drink, or medicine, with intent to kill or injure any person, and every person who shall willfully poison any spring, well or reservoir of water with that intent, shall be imprisoned for life or for any term of years.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-13-4 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-13 / Section 11-13-4
§ 11-13-4. Toy canes or devices for firing blanks.
Status: in_force

No person or persons shall sell, expose for sale, possess with intent to sell or use, or discharge or use, within this state, any repeating toy cane for discharging any explosive, any toy pistol, or any other toy device designed or used for the discharge of blank cartridges.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-19-1.1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-19 / Section 11-19-1.1
§ 11-19-1.1. Lotteries permitted.
Status: in_force

(a) Any state, city, town, ward, or district committee elected pursuant to the provisions of title 17 or certified candidates, but not both, as defined in title 17, shall be allowed to conduct that lottery commonly known as a twenty (20) week club or conduct a raffle once within a twelve (12) month period subsequent to notification to the Rhode Island lottery commission. For the purposes of this section a certified candidate does not include any state, city, town, ward, or district committee person.

(b) Credit unions may conduct savings promotion raffles as authorized by § 19-5-29.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-41-16.1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-41 / Section 11-41-16.1
§ 11-41-16.1. Sale or concealment of leased personal property.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person being in possession of personal property under a lease who sells, transfers, conceals, or aids in concealing the property, or any part of it, or refuses to return the leased personal property after the time of expiration of the lease with the intent of depriving the owner of the property, shall be guilty of larceny and be subject to the penalties set forth in § 11-41-5.

(b) The use of a false or fictitious name or address in obtaining leased personal property shall constitute prima facie evidence of intent to violate this section.

(c) Leased personal property, as used in this section, means any personal property received pursuant to a written contract, by which one owning the property (lessor) grants to another (lessee) the right to possess, use, and enjoy the personal property for a specified period of time for a specified sum.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-14-2 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-14 / Section 11-14-2
§ 11-14-2. Impersonation of town sealer, auctioneer, corder, or fence-viewer.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall falsely assume or pretend to be a town sealer of weights and measures, auctioneer, corder of wood, or fence-viewer, and shall act as such, shall be fined not less than twenty dollars ($20.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-32-1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-32 / Section 11-32-1
§ 11-32-1. Obstructing officer in execution of duty.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall obstruct any officer, civil, military, or otherwise, including any state, city, or town police, deputy sheriff, or fire fighter, while in the execution of his or her office or duty, shall be imprisoned not exceeding one year or be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-25-1.1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-25 / Section 11-25-1.1
§ 11-25-1.1. Escape from municipal detention facility.
Status: in_force

Every prisoner, detainee, or other person incarcerated or confined at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in the City of Central Falls who shall attempt to escape, or who shall escape, from the lawful custody of the director of the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility created under chapter 54 of title 45 shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned at the adult correctional institutions not more than three (3) years or be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500). This term shall commence at the expiration of the original term of imprisonment of the prisoner.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-44 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-47 / Section 11-47-44
§ 11-47-44. Standard of proof under §§ 11-47-42 and 11-47-43.
Status: in_force

No negative allegation of any kind need be averred or proved in any complaint under §§ 11-47-42 and 11-47-43, and the possession of any blackjack, slungshot, billy, sandclub, sandbag, metal knuckles, bludgeon, dirk, dagger, stiletto, or other similar weapon designed to cut and stab another, and the carrying or use of any the instrument or weapons or of any of the instruments or weapons forbidden by § 11-47-42 to be carried, worn, or used shall be evidence that the possession, use, wearing, or carrying, as the case may be, of any the instrument or weapon, is unlawful, but the respondent in any the case may show any fact that would render the possession or use, or wearing or carrying of the instrument or weapon lawful.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-19-35 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-19 / Section 11-19-35
§ 11-19-35. Pull-tab lottery tickets.
Status: in_force

(a) The Rhode Island lottery is empowered to sell and regulate the sale of pull-tab lottery tickets to religious, fraternal, civic, educational, veterans, or charitable organizations. The lottery shall determine, consistent with this section, those organizations that are authorized to sell pull-tab lottery tickets. As part of such determination, the Rhode Island lottery shall require criminal background checks of the applicant and any individual the lottery deems appropriate and said individuals shall apply to the bureau of criminal investigation of the Rhode Island state police or the Rhode Island department of the attorney general for a national criminal records check with fingerprinting. The individual whose criminal records check is being conducted shall be responsible for the payment of the costs of said criminal records check. The Rhode Island state police or the Rhode Island department of attorney general, as applicable, shall send the results of such criminal check to the Rhode Island lottery. Once said results are sent to and received by the Rhode Island Lottery, the Rhode Island state police and the Rhode Island department of attorney general shall promptly destroy said fingerprint record(s). On or before February 1, 2011, the agency shall adopt rules and regulations establishing criteria to be used in determining whether based upon a criminal records check an application will be approved.

(b) The lottery shall insure that the pull tab lottery tickets to be distributed are secured for the purposes under which they are to be sold in terms of concealing the result of the tickets until the time that they are sold to the general public. Consistent with this section, those organizations authorized to sell the tickets are authorized to retain net profits as shall have been provided for by the commission.

(c) Notwithstanding any other section of the general laws to the contrary, pull-tab lottery tickets authorized by this section are declared to be legal.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-35-7 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-35 / Section 11-35-7
§ 11-35-7. Bypassing meters  Use of electricity, gas or water with intent to defraud.
Status: in_force

Every person who, with intent to injure or defraud any gaslight company or any electric company, or corporation supplying water in this state at a stipulated rate of payment, shall make or cause to be made any wire, pipe, tube, or other instrument or contrivance, and connect it or cause it to be connected with any main, service pipe, or other pipe, appliance, or appurtenance used for or in connection with the works or apparatus employed for conducting or supplying electricity, illuminating gas, or water, in any manner that is calculated to supply electricity, gas, or water to any burner, orifice, faucet, or other outlet whatsoever, without the electricity, gas, or water passing through a meter provided or used for measuring or registering its quantity so passing through, or without the consent of the company or corporation to the connections, or who shall otherwise use any electricity, gas, or water with the intent to defraud the company or corporation of payment, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be imprisoned not exceeding one year or be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000). In any prosecution under this section, proof that any of the acts specified in this section were done on or about the premises occupied by the defendant, or proof of the presence on or about the premises, of any device which affects the diversion of electricity, gas, or water without it being measured or registered by the meter provided, shall be prima facie evidence that the defendant committed the acts, or aided or abetted in their commission, maliciously and with intent to injure or defraud.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-41-27 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-41 / Section 11-41-27
§ 11-41-27. Wrongful conversion by officer or state or municipal employee.
Status: in_force

Whoever, being an officer or employee of the state of Rhode Island, or any department, agency, instrumentality or political subdivision of the state, or any city or town, embezzles or wrongfully converts to his or her own use or benefit, or to the use or benefit of any other, any money or property which comes into his or her possession or control in the execution of that office or employment, shall be fined not more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or three (3) times the value of the money or property thus embezzled or converted, whichever is greater, or imprisoned not more than twenty (20) years, or both; except that if the sum or value of the property embezzled is less than one hundred dollars ($100) he or she shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-2-1.1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-2 / Section 11-2-1.1
§ 11-2-1.1. Failure to pay child support.
Status: in_force

(a) Every person who is obligated to pay child support pursuant to an order or decree established by or registered with the family court pursuant to chapter 11 of title 15, who has incurred arrearage of past-due child support in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000), and who shall willfully thereafter, having the means to do so, fail to pay three (3) or more installments of child support in an amount previously set by the court, according to the terms previously set by the court, shall be guilty of a felony for each instance of failure to make the subsequent payments and upon conviction shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not to exceed five (5) years.

(b) Every person who has for a period of three (3) years willfully failed to pay any installments of child support in an amount previously set by the court, according to the terms previously set by the court, and who shall thereafter, having the means to do so, fail to pay three (3) or more installments of child support in an amount previously set by the court, according to the terms previously set by the court, shall be guilty of a felony for each instance of failure to make the subsequent payments and upon conviction shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not to exceed five (5) years.

(c) For purposes of this section, subsequent payments means those payments or installments due and owing after a person has incurred an arrearage of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) as specified in subsection (a) of this section or those payments or installments due and owing after a person has failed to pay an installment for a period of three (3) years.

(d) The court may in its discretion direct that the sentence be served pursuant to §12-19-2(b).

[See §12-1-15 of the General Laws.]
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-44-31 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-44 / Section 11-44-31
§ 11-44-31. Desecration of places of public assemblage.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall, willfully and maliciously or mischievously, injure or destroy or write upon, paint, or otherwise damage or deface: (1) any church, synagogue, or other building, structure, or place used for religious worship or other religious purpose; (2) any cemetery, mortuary, or other facility used for the purpose of burial or memorializing the dead; (3) any building used for educational purposes or as a community meeting place and which is owned by an organization exempt from taxation under 26 U.S.C. § 501; (4) any public building owned and/or operated by the government of the United States or by the government of the state of Rhode Island or its political subdivisions; (5) the grounds adjacent to and owned or rented by any institution, facility, building, structure, or place described in subdivisions (1), (2), (3), or (4) of this section; or (6) any personal property contained in any institution, facility, building, structure, or place described in subdivisions (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) of this section; shall be guilty of a felony, and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or imprisonment not exceeding five (5) years, or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-36-13 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-36 / Section 11-36-13
§ 11-36-13. Tampering with railroad switches.
Status: in_force

Whoever unlawfully removes, turns, destroys, or tampers with any railroad switch or in any way interferes with the proper working of a switch shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment not exceeding three (3) years, or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-27-2 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-27 / Section 11-27-2
§ 11-27-2. Practice of law defined.
Status: in_force

Practice law as used in this chapter means the doing of any act for another person usually done by attorneys at law in the course of their profession, and, without limiting the generality of the definitions in this section, includes the following:

(1) The appearance or acting as the attorney, solicitor, or representative of another person before any court, referee, master, auditor, division, department, commission, board, judicial person, or body authorized or constituted by law to determine any question of law or fact or to exercise any judicial power, or the preparation of pleadings or other legal papers incident to any action or other proceeding of any kind before or to be brought before the court or other body;

(2) The giving or tendering to another person for a consideration, direct or indirect, of any advice or counsel pertaining to a law question or a court action or judicial proceeding brought or to be brought;

(3) The undertaking or acting as a representative or on behalf of another person to commence, settle, compromise, adjust, or dispose of any civil or criminal case or cause of action;

(4) The preparation or drafting for another person of a will, codicil, corporation organization, amendment, or qualification papers, or any instrument which requires legal knowledge and capacity and is usually prepared by attorneys at law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-52 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-47 / Section 11-47-52
§ 11-47-52. Carrying of weapon while under the influence of liquor or drugs.
Status: in_force

It is unlawful to carry or transport any firearm in this state when intoxicated or under the influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-11-7 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-11 / Section 11-11-7
§ 11-11-7. Overcrowded assembly.
Status: in_force

(a) The occupant load permitted in any assembly building structure, or portion of it, shall be determined by dividing the net floor area or space assigned to that use by the square feet per occupant as follows:

(1) An assembly area of concentrated use without fixed seats such as an auditorium, gymnasium, church, chapel, dance floor, and lodge room, seven square feet (7 sq. ft.) per person.

(2) An assembly area of less concentrated use such as conference rooms, dining room, drinking establishments, exhibit room, or lounge, fifteen square feet (15 sq. ft.) per person.

(3) Standing room or waiting space, five square feet (5 sq. ft.) per person; provided, that aisle area, except rear cross aisles, shall not be considered in determining the number of standing patrons allowed.

(b) Any residential structure, or portion of it, that is used by persons to assemble for consumption of food or drink shall not exceed the occupant load as determined by dividing the net floor area or space assigned to that use by the square feet per occupant as follows:

(1) Any individual single family dwelling or any unit in a multi-family dwelling or apartment house, fifteen (15) net square feet per person;

(2) A public space associated with a single family dwelling or any multi-family dwelling or apartment house, fifteen (15) net square feet per person.

(c) Penalty. If any person in control or possession of a building or structure, or portion of it, fails to comply with the provisions of this section, the assembly shall be reduced to the limit set forth by this section and the person in control or possession of a building or structure shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor and fined an amount not more than five hundred dollars ($500) for the first offense with notice of the offense sent by certified mail to the owner of the building or structure. The fine shall double for the second offense and triple for the third offense with all notices of the offenses sent to the owner of the building by certified mail. In the event there are more than three (3) offenses at a building or structure, the owner shall also be guilty of a petty misdemeanor and fined an amount not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-1-7 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-1 / Section 11-1-7
§ 11-1-7. Conspiracy to commit offense outside the state.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall, within this state, conspire with another to engage in conduct in another state punishable under the laws of that state, which conduct would also be punishable under the laws of this state, shall be subject to the same fine and imprisonment as under the law of this state pertain to the offense which the person shall have conspired to commit, provided that imprisonment for the conspiracy shall not exceed ten (10) years.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-41-28 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-41 / Section 11-41-28
§ 11-41-28. Civil restitution for shoplifting.
Status: in_force

(a) An adult or emancipated minor who commits or attempts to commit a larceny of goods for sale on the premises of a merchant as set forth in § 11-41-20 shall be civilly liable to the merchant in an amount consisting of:

(1) Not more than the retail value of the merchandise if not recovered in merchantable condition; plus

(2) A penalty of not more than one hundred dollars ($100); plus

(3) Court costs.

(b) A store employee shall be liable in a civil action for larceny of goods for sale on the premises of his or her merchant employer and for larceny of cash from the merchant. The civil liability to the merchant shall be in the amount consisting of:

(1) Not more than the value of the goods or cash; plus

(2) A penalty assessed of not more than one hundred dollars ($100); plus

(3) Court costs.

(c) A conviction or a plea of guilty to the offense of shoplifting is not a prerequisite to the bringing of a civil suit, obtaining a judgment, or collecting that judgment under this section.

(d) The fact that a merchant may bring action against an individual as provided in this section shall not limit the right of the merchant to demand, orally or in writing, that a person who is liable for damages and penalties under this section remit the damages prior to the consideration of the commencement of any legal action.

(e) An action for recovery of damages and penalties under this section may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction, including the small claims court of a district court, if the total damages do not exceed the jurisdictional limit of the small claims court.

(f) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to prohibit or limit any other course of action permitted by law which a merchant may have against a person who unlawfully takes merchandise from the merchants premise.

(g) If the person to whom a written demand is made complies with the demand within twenty (20) days after the receipt of the demand, that person shall be given a written release from further civil liability with respect to the specific act of retail theft; provided, that written demand shall not include penalties.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-5-1 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-5 / Section 11-5-1
§ 11-5-1. Assault with intent to commit specified felonies.
Status: in_force

Every person who shall make an assault with intent to commit murder, robbery, sexual assault, burglary, or the abominable and detestable crime against nature, shall be imprisoned not exceeding twenty (20) years nor less than one year.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-63-2 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-63 / Section 11-63-2
§ 11-63-2. Detention of persons suspected of unlawful use and/or removal of theft detection devices  Reasonable cause.
Status: in_force

(a) The activation of an anti-shoplifting or inventory control device as a result of a person exiting the establishment or a protected area within the establishment shall constitute reasonable cause for the detention of the person exiting by the owner or operator of the establishment or by an agent or employee of the owner or operator, provided sufficient notice has been posted to advise the patrons that the device is being utilized. Each detention shall be made only in a reasonable manner and only for a reasonable period of time sufficient for any inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the activation of the device or for the recovery of goods.

(b) The taking into custody and detention by a law enforcement officer, merchant, or merchants employee, if done in compliance with all the requirements of this section, shall not render law enforcement officer, merchant, or merchants employee criminally or civilly liable for false arrest, false imprisonment, or unlawful detention.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-19-30 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-19 / Section 11-19-30
§ 11-19-30. Definitions.
Status: in_force

The following definitions apply within this chapter:

(a) Charitable organization means any benevolent, educational, philanthropic, humane, patriotic, social service, civic, fraternal, police, labor, religious, eleemosynary person, and/or persons holding themselves out to be a charitable organization.

(b) Charitable purpose means any benevolent, educational, humane, patriotic, social service, civic, fraternal, police, labor, religious, or eleemosynary purpose, provided that no part of the net earnings inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.

(c) Department means the division of state police unless otherwise described.

(d) Director means the superintendent of state police or the directors designee.

(e) Permitted game of chance means the game commonly known as Bingo or Beano or substantially the same game under any other name, or a raffle or lottery or that lottery commonly known as a twenty (20) week club.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-19-44 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-19 / Section 11-19-44
§ 11-19-44. Remedies cumulative.
Status: in_force

The remedies provided in this chapter are cumulative of each other and of existing powers and remedies inherent in the court.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-9-13.7 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-9 / Section 11-9-13.7
§ 11-9-13.7. Signs concerning sales to individuals under age twenty-one (21).
Status: in_force

Signs provided by the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals, or an exact duplicate of it made privately, shall:

(1) Contain in red bold lettering a minimum of three-eighths inch ( 3 / 8 ³) high on a white background the following wording in both English and Spanish:

(2) Contain the phone number at the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals, where violations of §§ 11-9-13.2  11-9-13.19 can be reported, in addition to any other information required by the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals.

(3) Be displayed prominently for public view, wherever tobacco products, including electronic nicotine-delivery system products, are sold at each cash register, each tobacco product vending machine, including each electronic nicotine-delivery system product vending machine, or any other place from which tobacco products, including electronic nicotine-delivery system products, are sold. The signs shall be electronically available in both English and Spanish online at the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals website.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-7-10 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-7 / Section 11-7-10
§ 11-7-10. Acceptance of bribe by sports participant or official.
Status: in_force

Any player, coach, manager, official, or other person engaged in the playing, arranging, or promotion of any amateur or professional athletic game or contest or jai alai match or officiating at the game, contest or match, or any owner, trainer, groom, jockey, racing official or other person participating in any horse race or dog race or in any manner engaged in conducting, arranging, or promoting any horse race or officiating at any horse or dog race, who accepts any gift or gratuity, directly or indirectly, from any person who gives, offers, or promises any gift or gratuity with intent to improperly influence the conduct of the person in the arranging, holding, or playing of the athletic game or contest or jai alai match or officiating at the game, contest or match, or the running or promoting of the horse race or dog race or officiating at the horse or dog race, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment of not more than seven (7) years, or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-22-3 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-22 / Section 11-22-3
§ 11-22-3. Billboards near grade crossings or intersections.
Status: in_force

No person, partnership, or corporation shall erect, construct, or maintain any billboard along the line of any public highway or street within three hundred (300) feet of any place where a railroad crosses a public highway or street at grade, nor within a distance of fifty (50) feet of the intersection of any public highway or street. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to apply to the erection, construction, or maintenance of any billboard whenever it shall be erected, constructed, or maintained upon the top of any building or buildings not less than ten (10) feet in height. Any person, partnership, or corporation violating any of the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-24-3.2 — RI Code / Title 11 / Chapter 11-24 / Section 11-24-3.2
§ 11-24-3.2. Age discrimination  Limitation on prohibition.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter, age is construed as anyone over the age of eighteen (18).