reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-35 - Public Utilities › Section 11-35-14. - Refusal to relinquish or to damage or to obstruct telephone.

§ 11-35-14. Refusal to relinquish or to damage or to obstruct telephone.
(a)
Any person who willfully refuses to relinquish a party line or who obstructs or damages an individual telephone line or telephone set when he or she knows or should have known that the party line, individual telephone line or telephone set is needed for an emergency call to a fire department or police department or for medical aid or ambulance service shall be fined not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than three hundred dollars ($300) or be imprisoned ninety (90) days, or both, or any person who secures the use of a party line by falsely stating that the line is needed for an emergency call shall be fined not exceeding twenty dollars ($20.00) or be imprisoned not exceeding three (3) months.
(b)
As used in this section:
(1)
“Party line” means a subscriber line telephone circuit consisting of two (2) or more main telephone stations connected with it, each station with a distinctive ring or telephone number; and
(2)
“Emergency” means a situation in which property or human life are in jeopardy and the prompt summoning of aid is essential.
History of Section.
P.L. 1958, ch. 145, § 1; P.L. 1997, ch. 133, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 346, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-35 - Public Utilities › Section 11-35-15. - Notice on telephone book.

§ 11-35-15. Notice on telephone book.
A copy of § 11-35-14, preceded by the word “Warning” in large type, shall be printed in a prominent place in every telephone directory distributed to the members of the general public in this state or in any portion of it after June 1, 1958, which lists the calling numbers of telephones of any telephone exchange located in this state; provided, the provisions of this section shall not apply to those directories distributed solely for business advertising purposes, commonly known as classified directories.
History of Section.
P.L. 1958, ch. 145, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-35 - Public Utilities › Section 11-35-16. - Wrongfully obtaining telecommunication service.

§ 11-35-16. Wrongfully obtaining telecommunication service.
(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.
History of Section.
P.L. 1961, ch. 157, § 1; P.L. 1981, ch. 198, § 1; P.L. 1983, ch. 316, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-35 - Public Utilities › Section 11-35-17. - Crank or obscene telephone calls.

§ 11-35-17. Crank or obscene telephone calls.
(a)
Whoever shall originate a transmission by facsimile machine, or other telecommunication device or shall telephone any person repeatedly or cause any person to be telephoned repeatedly for the sole purpose of harassing, annoying, or molesting the other person or his or her family, whether or not conversation ensues; or whoever shall originate a transmission by facsimile machine, or other telecommunication device or shall telephone any person for the purpose of using any threatening, vulgar, indecent, obscene, or immoral language over the telephone, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.
(b)
This section shall not be construed to impose any liability upon providers of telecommunications services.
History of Section.
P.L. 1965, ch. 195, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 278, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-35 - Public Utilities › Section 11-35-18. - Bomb threats and similar false reports.

§ 11-35-18. Bomb threats and similar false reports.
Whoever, knowing the report to be false, transmits or causes to be transmitted to any person by telephone or other means a communication falsely reporting the location of any explosive or other dangerous substance or contrivance, causing anxiety, unrest, fear, or personal discomfort by that false report to any person or group of persons, shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment at the adult correctional institutions for not more than ten (10) years, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both fine and imprisonment.
History of Section.
P.L. 1965, ch. 195, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-35 - Public Utilities › Section 11-35-19. - Prosecution for violations of §§ 11-35-17, 11-35-18.

§ 11-35-19. Prosecution for violations of §§ 11-35-17, 11-35-18.
The crimes described in §§ 11-35-17 and 11-35-18 may be prosecuted and punished in the territorial jurisdiction in which the communication originates or is received.
History of Section.
P.L. 1965, ch. 195, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-35 - Public Utilities › Section 11-35-20. - Termination of service.

§ 11-35-20. Termination of service.
Every person or corporation who shall willfully for non-payment of charges cut off, discontinue, or otherwise terminate gas, electric, water, telephone, light, heat, or power service to any domestic or institutional user on either Friday, Saturday, or Sunday or at any time when the office of the person or corporation is not open for business or the day before any legal holiday shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500).
History of Section.
P.L. 1968, ch. 38, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-35 - Public Utilities › Section 11-35-20.1. - Wrongful termination or disruption of service.

§ 11-35-20.1. Wrongful termination or disruption of service.
(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).
History of Section.
P.L. 2016, ch. 447, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 448, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-35 - Public Utilities › Section 11-35-21. - Unauthorized interception, disclosure or use of wire, electronic, or oral communication.

§ 11-35-21. Unauthorized interception, disclosure or use of wire, electronic, or oral communication.
(a)
Except as otherwise specifically provided in chapter 5.1 of title 12, any person: (1) who willfully intercepts, attempts to intercept, or procures any other person to intercept or attempt to intercept, any wire, electronic, or oral communication; (2) who willfully discloses or attempts to disclose to any person the contents of any wire, electronic, or oral communication, knowing, or having reason to know that the information was obtained through interception of a wire, electronic, or oral communication in violation of this section; or (3) who willfully uses or attempts to use the contents of any wire, electronic, or oral communication, knowing, or having reason to know, that the information was obtained through interception of a wire, electronic, or oral communication in violation of this section; shall be imprisoned for not more than five (5) years.
(b)
The provisions of subdivisions (a)(2) and (3) of this section shall not apply to the contents of any wire, electronic, or oral communication, or evidence derived from those contents, which has become common knowledge or public information.
(c)
It shall not be unlawful under this chapter for:
(1)
An operator of a switchboard, or an officer, agent, or employee of a communication common carrier, whose facilities are used in the transmission of a wire, electronic, or oral communication, to intercept, disclose, or use that communication in the normal course of his or her employment while engaged in any activity which is a necessary incident to the rendition of his or her service or to the protection of the rights or property of the carrier of the communication. No communication common carrier shall utilize service observing or random monitoring except for mechanical or service quality control checks;
(2)
A person acting under color of law to intercept a wire, electronic, or oral communication, where that person is a party to the communication, or where one of the parties to the communication has given prior consent to the interception; or
(3)
A person not acting under color of law to intercept a wire, electronic, or oral communication, where the person is a party to the communication, or one of the parties to the communication has given prior consent to the interception unless the communication is intercepted for the purpose of committing any criminal or tortious act in the violation of the constitution or laws of the United States or of any state or for the purpose of committing any other injurious act.
History of Section.
P.L. 1969, ch. 55 § 3; P.L. 1999, ch. 167, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-35 - Public Utilities › Section 11-35-22. - Offenses in connection with authorized interception of communications.

§ 11-35-22. Offenses in connection with authorized interception of communications.
Except as otherwise specifically provided in chapter 5.1 of title 12, any person: (1) who willfully edits, alters, or tampers with any tape, transcription, or other sound recording, or knows of the editing, altering, or tampering, and presents the recording in any judicial proceeding or proceeding under oath, without fully indicating the nature of the changes made and the original state of the recording; or (2) who willfully discloses to any person any information concerning or contained in the application for or the granting or denial of orders for interception, renewals, notice, or return on an ex parte order granted pursuant to this section, or the contents of any document, tape, or recording kept in accordance with chapter 5.1 of title 12; shall be imprisoned for not more than five (5) years.
History of Section.
P.L. 1969, ch. 55, § 3.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-35 - Public Utilities › Section 11-35-23. - Failure to report to law enforcement officers.

§ 11-35-23. Failure to report to law enforcement officers.
An employee of any communication common carrier who has knowledge obtained during the course of that employment of any violation of this chapter and willfully fails to report that knowledge within seven (7) days to the attorney general shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or both.
History of Section.
P.L. 1969, ch. 55, § 3.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-35 - Public Utilities › Section 11-35-24. - Possession, sale, distribution, manufacture and advertising of intercepting device.

§ 11-35-24. Possession, sale, distribution, manufacture and advertising of intercepting device.
(a)
Any person who willfully and knowingly possesses, sells, distributes, manufactures, assembles, or places in any publication any advertisement of, an intercepting device, the design of which renders it primarily useful for the purpose of the surreptitious interception of a wire or oral communication shall be imprisoned not more than five (5) years and fined not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000);
(b)
It shall not be unlawful under this section for a communication common carrier or an officer, agent, or employee of, or a person under contract with, a communication common carrier, in the usual course of the communication common carrier’s business, or a person under contract with the United States or a state or a political subdivision of it, or an officer, agent, or employee of a state or a political subdivision of it, to possess, sell, distribute, manufacture, assemble, or advertise any intercepting device, while acting in furtherance of the appropriate activities of the United States or a state or political subdivision of it or a communication common carrier.
History of Section.
P.L. 1969, ch. 55, § 3.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-35 - Public Utilities › Section 11-35-25. - Fraudulent communication devices.

§ 11-35-25. Fraudulent communication devices.
(a)
It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully make, manufacture, assemble, possess, possess with intent to sell, sell, give, or otherwise transfer to another, or offer or place in any newspaper, magazine, handbill, or other publication any advertisement to sell, give, or otherwise transfer to another or purchase or in any other manner obtain, receive, or conceal any electronic, mechanical, or other device, instrument, apparatus, or equipment, or plans, specifications, instructions, or other information for making, manufacturing, assembling, or using any device, instrument, apparatus, or other equipment or to publish any plans, specifications, instructions, or other information with intent to use it or know or have reason to know that it is intended to be used or that its design renders it primarily useful to obtain any communication or community antenna television service from a company providing that service, by rearranging, tampering with, or making any unauthorized connection, whether physically, electronically, acoustically, inductively, or otherwise to any telephone or community antenna television instrument, equipment, or facility of any company, to avoid the payment, in whole or in part, of the lawful charge for the communication or community antenna television service or to conceal from any company or from lawful authority the existence or place of origin or termination of any communication, or by using any communication or community antenna television service knowing or having reason to know that the rearrangement, tampering, or connection existed at the time of use.
(b)
Any person who is convicted of willfully making, manufacturing, assembling, or possessing with the intent to sell, or who sells, gives or otherwise transfers to another, or offers or places in any newspaper, magazine, handbill, or other publication any advertisement to sell, or give, or otherwise transfers to another any devices and/or instruments as described in this section shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, may be imprisoned for not more than three (3) years, or fined not more than three thousand dollars ($3,000), or both.
(c)
Any person who is convicted of having possession of any devices, instruments and/or plans as described in this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, may, except as provided in this section, be imprisoned for not more than one year, or fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or both; provided, that any person who is convicted of having possession of any devices, instruments, and/or plans relative to a community antenna television system or instruments, equipment or facilities in connection with it as described in this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, may be fined up to one thousand dollars ($1,000).
History of Section.
P.L. 1978, ch. 60, § 1; P.L. 1983, ch. 316, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-35 - Public Utilities › Section 11-35-26. - Automatic telephone dialing systems failing to disconnect.

§ 11-35-26. Automatic telephone dialing systems failing to disconnect.
(a)
Any person who operates an automatic telephone dialing system in this state which fails within five (5) seconds after the called party hangs up to automatically create a disconnect signal or an on-hook condition which allows the called party’s line to be released shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred dollars ($200) for each occurrence.
(b)
As used in this section, “automatic telephone dialing system” means any automatic terminal equipment which is capable of storing numbers to be called or producing numbers to be called, using a random or sequential number generator, and with the ability to call those numbers, and which is capable of delivering a prerecorded message to the number called with or without manual assistance.
History of Section.
P.L. 1987, ch. 59, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-35 - Public Utilities › Section 11-35-28. - Trespassing on utility right-of-way.

§ 11-35-28. Trespassing on utility right-of-way.
Every person who, without right, knowingly makes attachments to, or disposes on, the facilities or the rights-of-way of any electric, gas, telephone, or water utility, shall be subject to a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) per incident, plus the cost of repair of the facility or right-of-way from the action. The fine shall be payable to the general fund of the municipality where the incident occurred.
History of Section.
P.L. 1992, ch. 482, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-35 - Public Utilities › Section 11-35-29. - Trespassing on utility property.

§ 11-35-29. Trespassing on utility property.
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.
History of Section.
P.L. 2011, ch. 378, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-35.1 - Theft of Telecommunication Services › Section 11-35.1-1. - Definitions.

§ 11-35.1-1. Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter:
(1)
“Manufacture of an unlawful telecommunications device” means to design, produce, assemble, duplicate, modify, alter, program or reprogram a telecommunication device that:
(i)
Duplicates the identity of an authorized telecommunication service used for sale and distribution without the consent of the telecommunication service provider; or
(ii)
Is capable of acquiring or facilitating the acquisition of telecommunication service without the consent of the telecommunication service provider.
(2)
“Sell” means to transfer for consideration or agree to do so.
(3)
“Telecommunication device” means any type of instrument, device, apparatus, machine or equipment which is designed to or is capable of transmitting or receiving telephonic, electronic, or radio communications or any part of an instrument, device, machine or equipment, or computer circuit, computer chip, electronic mechanism or any other component, which is capable of facilitating the transmission or reception of telephonic, electronic or radio communications.
(4)
“Telecommunication service” means any service provided for a charge or compensation to facilitate the origination, transmission, emission or reception of signs, signals, data, writing, images and sounds or intelligence of any nature by telephone, including cellular or wireless telephones, wire, radio, television, video, optical or other electromagnetic system.
(5)
“Telecommunication provider” means a person or entity providing telecommunication service including, but not limited to, a commercial mobile radio service company or other person or entity which, for a fee, supplies the facility, cell site, mobile telephone switching office or other equipment or telecommunication service.
(6)
“Unlawful telecommunication device” means any electronic serial number, mobile identification number, personal identification number of any telecommunication device that is manufactured, altered, modified, programmed or reprogrammed alone or in conjunction with another device or other equipment for the purpose of intentionally acquiring or facilitating the acquisition of a telecommunication service without the consent of the telecommunication service provider. These unlawful devices include, but are not limited to, tumbler phones, clone phones, tumbler microchips, clone microchips and other instruments capable of disguising their identity or location or of gaining access to a communications system operated by a telecommunication service provider.
History of Section.
P.L. 1997, ch. 181, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-35.1 - Theft of Telecommunication Services › Section 11-35.1-2. - Criminal offense.

§ 11-35.1-2. Criminal offense.
(a)
A criminal offense is committed by:
(1)
Any person who intentionally obtains or attempts to obtain telecommunication service by the use of an unlawful telecommunication device.
(2)
Any person who makes, distributes, possesses or assembles an unlawful telecommunication device, or plans or instructions for making the same, under circumstances evidencing an intent to use or employ such unlawful telecommunication device.
(3)
Any person who engages in the business for profit or economic gain of selling or offering for sale an unlawful telecommunication device.
(b)(1)
A person is guilty of theft of telecommunications service for profit or economic gain when he or she:
(i)
Engages in the business for profit or economic gain of tampering or making connection with the equipment of a supplier of a telecommunication service without the consent of the supplier, for the purpose of supplying that service on one or more occasions;
(ii)
Engages in the business for profit or economic gain of offering for sale to any person other than the supplier of a telecommunication service any decoder, descrambler or other device or the unauthorized use of a confidential identification or authorization code, the principal function of which defeats the electronic signal encryption jamming or individually addressed switching imposed by the supplier for the purpose of restricting the delivery of that service to persons who pay for the service;
(iii)
Without the consent of the supplier of the service, engages in the business for profit or economic gain of connecting or disconnecting the fiber optic, cables, conduits, wires, conductors, attachments or other electromagnetic system of the supplier;
(iv)
Conceals or assists another to conceal from any telecommunication service provider or from any lawful authority the existence or place of origin or destination of any telecommunication.
(2)
There shall be a rebuttable presumption of intent that a person is engaged in the business for profit or economic gain of offering for sale a decoder, descrambler or other device or a confidential identification or authorization code in violation of paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection if the person has three (3) or more decoders, descramblers or other devices or confidential identification or authorization codes in his or her possession or under his or her control.
History of Section.
P.L. 1997, ch. 181, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-35.1 - Theft of Telecommunication Services › Section 11-35.1-3. - Civil actions.

§ 11-35.1-3. Civil actions.
Any person aggrieved by acts constituting a violation of § 11-35.1-2 may bring a civil action in the superior court for the judicial district where the violation occurred for relief including a temporary or permanent injunction and damages. In addition to any other relief, the court may, in its discretion, award costs and reasonable attorney’s fee.
History of Section.
P.L. 1997, ch. 181, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-35.1 - Theft of Telecommunication Services › Section 11-35.1-4. - Penalties.

§ 11-35.1-4. Penalties.
A person who commits an offense in violation of this chapter shall be fined not more than thirty thousand dollars ($30,000), or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five (5) years, or both.
History of Section.
P.L. 1997, ch. 181, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-36 - Railroads and Carriers › Section 11-36-1. - Hindering passage of trains — Placing explosives near highways, buildings, or tracks.

§ 11-36-1. Hindering passage of trains — Placing explosives near highways, buildings, or tracks.
Every person who shall willfully place upon any railroad track any substance or thing with intent to hinder or impede the passage of any locomotive engine or car over the railroad, or shall willfully do any other act, matter, or thing, with intent to hinder, impede, or interrupt the passage of the locomotive engine or car, or whoever willfully throws into, against, or upon, or puts, places, or explodes, or causes to be exploded, in, upon or near a public highway, building, monument, bridge, railroad track, or car on it, or vessel, any gunpowder or other explosive substance, or a bombshell, torpedo, or any instrument or package filled or loaded with an explosive substance, with intent unlawfully to destroy or injure the highway, building, monument, bridge, railroad track, car, or vessel, or any person or property, in, on or near the highway, building, monument, highway, bridge, railroad track, car, or vessel, shall be imprisoned not less than two (2) years nor more than twenty (20) years, or be fined not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 279, § 29; G.L. 1909, ch. 345, § 30; P.L. 1909, ch. 429, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 397, § 30; G.L. 1938, ch. 608, § 30; G.L. 1956, § 11-36-1; P.L. 1987, ch. 76, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-36 - Railroads and Carriers › Section 11-36-2. - Unauthorized stopping of train.

§ 11-36-2. Unauthorized stopping of train.
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).
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 279, § 30; G.L. 1909, ch. 345, § 31; G.L. 1923, ch. 397, § 31; G.L. 1938, ch. 608, § 31; G.L. 1956, § 11-36-2.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-36 - Railroads and Carriers › Section 11-36-3. - Throwing missiles at train.

§ 11-36-3. Throwing missiles at train.
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.
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 279, § 31; G.L. 1909, ch. 345, § 32; G.L. 1923, ch. 397, § 32; G.L. 1938, ch. 608, § 32; G.L. 1956, § 11-36-3; P.L. 1962, ch. 144, § 1; P.L. 1973, ch. 154, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-36 - Railroads and Carriers › Section 11-36-4. - Injuring railroad signals or signal lines.

§ 11-36-4. Injuring railroad signals or signal lines.
Whoever unlawfully and intentionally injures, molests, or destroys any electric or other signal of a railroad corporation, or any line, wire, post, or other structure or mechanism used in connection with a signal on a railroad, or destroys, or in any way interferes with, the proper working of the signal, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) or by imprisonment not exceeding two (2) years.
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 279, § 32; G.L. 1909, ch. 345, § 33; G.L. 1923, ch. 397, § 33; G.L. 1938, ch. 608, § 33; G.L. 1956, § 11-36-4.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-36 - Railroads and Carriers › Section 11-36-5. - Loitering on railroad or bus line property.

§ 11-36-5. Loitering on railroad or bus line property.
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).
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 279, § 33; G.L. 1909, ch. 345, § 34; G.L. 1923, ch. 397, § 34; G.L. 1938, ch. 608, § 34; G.L. 1956, § 11-36-5; P.L. 1968, ch. 22, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-36 - Railroads and Carriers › Section 11-36-6. - Trespassing on railroad right-of-way.

§ 11-36-6. Trespassing on railroad right-of-way.
Every person who without right knowingly stands or walks, or rides a bicycle or other vehicle on the private right-of-way of any railroad or railway operated by steam or other power, except for the purpose of crossing it at a highway or other authorized crossing, shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or be imprisoned not more than one year, or both. Any person violating this section may be arrested without a warrant by any police officer or any special railroad police officer and proceeded against according to law.
History of Section.
P.L. 1899, ch. 613, § 1; G.L. 1909, ch. 345, § 35; P.L. 1913, ch. 953, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 397, § 35; G.L. 1938, ch. 608, § 35; G.L. 1956, § 11-36-6; P.L. 1985, ch. 157, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 76, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-36 - Railroads and Carriers › Section 11-36-7. - Posting of statute.

§ 11-36-7. Posting of statute.
A printed copy of § 11-36-6 shall be conspicuously posted in a public place in or upon each passenger station of every railroad and railway operated by steam or other power in this state.
History of Section.
P.L. 1899, ch. 613, § 2; G.L. 1909, ch. 345, § 36; P.L. 1913, ch. 953, § 2; G.L. 1923, ch. 397, § 36; G.L. 1938, ch. 608, § 36; G.L. 1956, § 11-36-7.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-36 - Railroads and Carriers › Section 11-36-8. - Removal of waste or packing from journal boxes.

§ 11-36-8. Removal of waste or packing from journal boxes.
Every person who shall willfully and maliciously take or remove the waste or packing from out of any journal box or boxes of any locomotive, engine, tender, carriage, coach, car, caboose, or truck used or operated upon any railroad, whether operated by steam or electricity, shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned not more than three (3) years or be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500).
History of Section.
P.L. 1905, ch. 1217, § 1; G.L. 1909, ch. 345, § 37; G.L. 1923, ch. 397, § 37; G.L. 1938, ch. 608, § 37; G.L. 1956, § 11-36-8.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-36 - Railroads and Carriers › Section 11-36-9. - Obstruction of street railway company.

§ 11-36-9. Obstruction of street railway company.
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.
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 279, §§ 65, 66; G.L. 1909, ch. 345, §§ 68, 69; G.L. 1923, ch. 397, §§ 68, 69; G.L. 1938, ch. 608, §§ 75, 76; G.L. 1956, § 11-36-9.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-36 - Railroads and Carriers › Section 11-36-10. - Evasion of payment of fare.

§ 11-36-10. Evasion of payment of fare.
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.
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 279, § 43; G.L. 1909, ch. 345, § 46; P.L. 1916, ch. 1391, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 397, § 46; P.L. 1930, ch. 1534, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 608, § 46; G.L. 1956, § 11-36-10; P.L. 1997, ch. 151, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-36 - Railroads and Carriers › Section 11-36-11. - Unauthorized presence on locomotive or freight train.

§ 11-36-11. Unauthorized presence on locomotive or freight train.
Every person who shall without right attach himself or herself to or shall be in or upon any locomotive, locomotive tender, freight car, or freight train upon any railroad track shall be fined not more than twenty dollars ($20.00), or be imprisoned not more than ten (10) days, or both. Any person violating this section may be arrested without a warrant by any police officer, or any railroad police officer, and proceeded against according to law.
History of Section.
P.L. 1909, ch. 373, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 397, § 73; G.L. 1938, ch. 608, § 81; G.L. 1956, § 11-36-11.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-36 - Railroads and Carriers › Section 11-36-12. - Profiteering on tickets.

§ 11-36-12. Profiteering on tickets.
No person shall resell or offer for resale a ticket or tickets for passage of a person on a common carrier at an increase in price in excess of one dollar ($1.00) over the established rate for the passage and, whenever the resale is completed, the seller shall give to the purchaser a receipt indicating the amount paid for the ticket or tickets. Any person found guilty of violating the provisions of this section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500).
History of Section.
G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 59; P.L. 1944, ch. 1415, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 11-36-12.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-36 - Railroads and Carriers › Section 11-36-13. - Tampering with railroad switches.

§ 11-36-13. Tampering with railroad switches.
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.
History of Section.
P.L. 1973, ch. 149, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 76, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-36 - Railroads and Carriers › Section 11-36-14. - “Railroad corporation” and “company” defined.

§ 11-36-14. “Railroad corporation” and “company” defined.
“Railroad corporation” and “railroad company,” wherever used in this chapter, include in their meaning the National Railroad Foundation and Museum.
History of Section.
P.L. 1982, ch. 60, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-37 - Sexual Assault › Section 11-37-1. - Definitions.

§ 11-37-1. Definitions.
The following words and phrases, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings:
(1)
“Accused” means a person accused of a sexual assault.
(2)
“Force or coercion” means when the accused does any of the following:
(i)
Uses or threatens to use a weapon, or any article used or fashioned in a manner to lead the victim to reasonably believe it to be a weapon.
(ii)
Overcomes the victim through the application of physical force or physical violence.
(iii)
Coerces the victim to submit by threatening to use force or violence on the victim and the victim reasonably believes that the accused has the present ability to execute these threats.
(iv)
Coerces the victim to submit by threatening to at some time in the future murder, inflict serious bodily injury upon or kidnap the victim or any other person and the victim reasonably believes that the accused has the ability to execute this threat.
(3)
“Intimate parts” means the genital or anal areas, groin, inner thigh, or buttock of any person or the breast of a female.
(4)
“Mentally disabled” means a person who has a mental impairment which renders that person incapable of appraising the nature of the act.
(5)
“Mentally incapacitated” means a person who is rendered temporarily incapable of appraising or controlling his or her conduct due to the influence of a narcotic, anesthetic, or other substance administered to that person without his or her consent, or who is mentally unable to communicate unwillingness to engage in the act.
(6)
“Physically helpless” means a person who is unconscious, asleep, or for any other reason is physically unable to communicate unwillingness to an act.
(7)
“Sexual contact” means the intentional touching of the victim’s or accused’s intimate parts, clothed or unclothed, if that intentional touching can be reasonably construed as intended by the accused to be for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification, or assault.
(8)
“Sexual penetration” means sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, and anal intercourse, or any other intrusion, however slight, by any part of a person’s body or by any object into the genital or anal openings of another person’s body, or the victim’s own body upon the accused’s instruction, but emission of semen is not required.
(9)
“Spouse” means a person married to the accused at the time of the alleged sexual assault, except that such persons shall not be considered the spouse if the couple are living apart and a decision for divorce has been granted, whether or not a final decree has been entered.
(10)
“Victim” means the person alleging to have been subjected to sexual assault.
History of Section.
P.L. 1979, ch. 302, § 2; P.L. 1980, ch. 273, § 1; P.L. 1984, ch. 152, § 1; P.L. 1986, ch. 191, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 204, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 13; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 13.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-37 - Sexual Assault › Section 11-37-2. - First degree sexual assault.

§ 11-37-2. First degree sexual assault.
A person is guilty of first degree sexual assault if he or she engages in sexual penetration 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 or coercion.
(3)
The accused, through concealment or by the element of surprise, is able to overcome the victim.
(4)
The accused engages in the medical treatment or examination of the victim for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification, or stimulation.
History of Section.
P.L. 1979, ch. 302, § 2; P.L. 1980, ch. 273, § 1; P.L. 1981, ch. 119, § 1; P.L. 1984, ch. 59, § 1; P.L. 1984, ch. 355, § 1; P.L. 1986, ch. 191, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 238, § 1; P.L. 2021, ch. 75, § 1, effective June 23, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 76, § 1, effective June 23, 2021.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-37 - Sexual Assault › Section 11-37-3. - Penalty for first degree sexual assault.

§ 11-37-3. Penalty for first degree sexual assault.
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.
History of Section.
P.L. 1979, ch. 302, § 2.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-37 - Sexual Assault › Section 11-37-3.1. - Duty to report sexual assault.

§ 11-37-3.1. Duty to report sexual assault.
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.
History of Section.
P.L. 1983, ch. 268, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-37 - Sexual Assault › Section 11-37-3.2. - Necessity of complaint from victim.

§ 11-37-3.2. Necessity of complaint from victim.
No person shall be charged under § 11-37-3.1 unless and until the police department investigating the incident obtains from the victim a signed complaint against the person alleging a violation of § 11-37-3.1.
History of Section.
P.L. 1983, ch. 268, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-37 - Sexual Assault › Section 11-37-3.3. - Failure to report — Penalty.

§ 11-37-3.3. Failure to report — Penalty.
Any person who knowingly fails to report a sexual assault or attempted sexual assault as required under § 11-37-3.1 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one year, or fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or both.
History of Section.
P.L. 1983, ch. 268, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-37 - Sexual Assault › Section 11-37-3.4. - Immunity from liability.

§ 11-37-3.4. Immunity from liability.
Any person participating in good faith in making a report pursuant to § 11-37-3.1 shall have immunity from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be incurred or imposed. Any participant shall have the same immunity with respect to participation in any judicial proceeding resulting from the report.
History of Section.
P.L. 1983, ch. 268, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-37 - Sexual Assault › Section 11-37-3.5. - Duty to report sexual misconduct conviction.

§ 11-37-3.5. Duty to report sexual misconduct conviction.
If a public school teacher or employee is convicted of a new violation of this chapter, the chief of police of the arresting department shall notify the appropriate school district, superintendent of schools, the department of public safety, and the commissioner of elementary and secondary education.
History of Section.
P.L. 1985, ch. 484, § 1; P.L. 1986, ch. 178, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-37 - Sexual Assault › Section 11-37-4. - Second degree sexual assault.

§ 11-37-4. Second degree sexual assault.
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.
History of Section.
P.L. 1979, ch. 302, § 2; P.L. 1980, ch. 273, § 1; P.L. 1981, ch. 119, § 1; P.L. 1984, ch. 59, § 1; P.L. 1986, ch. 191, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 157, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 164, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-37 - Sexual Assault › Section 11-37-5. - Penalty for second degree sexual assault.

§ 11-37-5. Penalty for second degree sexual assault.
Every person who shall commit sexual assault in the second degree shall be imprisoned for not less than three (3) years and not more than fifteen (15) years.
History of Section.
P.L. 1979, ch. 302, § 2.