2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 5 - Businesses and Professions › Chapter 5-8 - Engineers › Section 5-8-20. - Violations and penalties — Enforcement — Injunctions.

§ 5-8-20. Violations and penalties — Enforcement — Injunctions.
(a)
No individual shall: (1) Practice or offer to practice engineering in this state; (2) Use any title, sign, card, or device implying that the individual is an engineer or is competent to practice engineering in this state; (3) Use in connection with his or her name or otherwise any title or description conveying or tending to convey the impression that the individual is an engineer or is competent to practice engineering in this state; or (4) Use or display any words, letters, figures, seals, or advertisements indicating that the individual is an engineer or is competent to practice engineering in this state; unless that individual holds a currently valid certificate issued pursuant to this chapter or is specifically exempted from the certificate requirement under the provisions of this chapter.
(b)
No sole proprietorship, partnership, limited-liability partnership, corporation, or limited-liability company shall: (1) Practice or offer to practice engineering in this state; (2) Use any title, sign, card, or device implying that the sole proprietorship, partnership, limited-liability partnership, corporation, or limited-liability company is competent to practice engineering in this state; (3) Use in connection with its name or otherwise any title or description conveying or tending to convey the impression that the entity is an engineering firm or is competent to practice engineering in this state; or (4) Use or display any words, letters, figures, seals, or advertisements indicating that the entity is an engineering firm or is competent to practice engineering in this state; unless that sole proprietorship, partnership, limited-liability partnership, corporation, or limited-liability company complies with the requirements of this chapter.
(c)
Any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited-liability partnership, corporation, or limited-liability company that: (1) Violates subsection (a) or (b) of this section; (2) Presents or attempts to use the certificate of registration/authorization of another; (3) Gives any false or forged evidence of any kind to the department, board, or to any member or employee thereof in obtaining or attempting to obtain a certificate of registration/authorization; (4) Falsely impersonates any other registrant whether of a like or different name; (5) Uses or attempts to use an expired, revoked, or nonexistent certificate of registration/authorization; (6) Falsely claims to be registered under this chapter; or (7) Otherwise violates any provision of this chapter; is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the first offense and a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than two thousand dollars ($2,000) for each subsequent offense, or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both; and in the court’s discretion and upon good cause shown reimburse the department for any and all fees, expenses, and costs incurred by the board in connection with the proceedings, including attorney’s fees, which amount shall be deposited as general revenues; and be subject to, in the director’s discretion, public censure or reprimand.
(d)
Either on his or her own initiative or on the recommendation of the board, the director has the power to institute injunction proceedings in superior court to prevent violations of subsection (a) or (b) or violations of § 5-8-1. In injunction proceedings, the director shall not be required to prove that an adequate remedy at law does not exist, or that substantial or irreparable damage would result from continued violations. The superior court, in its discretion and in addition to any injunctive relief granted to the department, may order that any person or entity in violation of this section shall:
(1)
Upon good cause shown, reimburse the department for any and all fees, expenses, and costs incurred by the board and/or the department in connection with the proceedings, including attorney’s fees, which amounts shall be deposited as general revenues; and/or
(2)
Be subject to public censure or reprimand.
(e)
It is the duty of all constituted officers of the state and all political subdivisions of the state to enforce the provisions of this chapter and to prosecute any persons violating those provisions.
(f)
The department shall make its legal staff available to act as legal adviser to the board and render any legal assistance that is necessary in carrying out the provisions of this chapter. The director may employ counsel and necessary assistance to aid in the enforcement of this chapter, and their compensation and expenses shall be paid from funds as provided in § 5-8-23.
History of Section.
P.L. 1990, ch. 330, § 2; P.L. 1999, ch. 285, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 56, § 2; P.L. 2004, ch. 63, § 2; P.L. 2013, ch. 298, § 2; P.L. 2013, ch. 378, § 2.