Section 31-21.2-1. – Title.

§ 31-21.2-1. Title. This chapter may be cited as “Racial Profiling Prevention Act of 2004.” History of Section.P.L. 2004, ch. 331, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 356, § 1.

Section 31-21.2-2. – Findings.

§ 31-21.2-2. Findings. (a) Municipal and state law enforcement officers play a vital role in protecting the public from crime. The vast majority of police officers discharge their duties professionally and without bias. (b) The use by police officers of race, ethnicity, or national origin solely in deciding which persons should be subject to traffic […]

Section 31-21.2-3. – Ban on racial profiling.

§ 31-21.2-3. Ban on racial profiling. No state or municipal law enforcement officer or law enforcement agency shall engage in racial profiling. For purposes of this chapter, “racial profiling” means the detention, interdiction or other disparate treatment of an individual on the basis, in whole or in part, of the racial or ethnic status of […]

Section 31-21.2-4. – Enforcement.

§ 31-21.2-4. Enforcement. Any individual who alleges a violation of this chapter, other than § 31-21.2-6, may file a civil action for damages and any appropriate and equitable relief in Superior Court. The court may allow a prevailing plaintiff reasonable attorneys’ fees as part of the costs. History of Section.P.L. 2004, ch. 331, § 1; […]

Section 31-21.2-5. – Law enforcement practices.

§ 31-21.2-5. Law enforcement practices. (a) Unless there exists reasonable suspicion or probable cause of criminal activity, no motor vehicle stopped for a traffic violation shall be detained beyond the time needed to address the violation. Nothing contained herein shall prohibit the detention of a motor vehicle for a reasonable period of time for the […]

Section 31-21.2-6. – Continued data collection.

§ 31-21.2-6. Continued data collection. (a) The office of highway safety of the Rhode Island department of transportation or a designee to be chosen by the department of transportation by January 1, 2017, is authorized to and shall conduct a study of routine traffic stops by the Rhode Island state police and each municipal police […]

Section 31-21.2-7. – Data collection and use.

§ 31-21.2-7. Data collection and use. (a) Data acquired under this chapter shall not be used in any civil proceeding to establish or rebut an inference of discrimination except by court order or when otherwise admissible in accordance with rules of civil procedure. It is understood that disparities may or may not equate to racial […]

Section 31-21.2-8. – Complaint procedures.

§ 31-21.2-8. Complaint procedures. (a) Each state and municipal law enforcement agency shall establish a procedure to investigate complaints of police misconduct by members of the public against personnel of these agencies, and shall make a written description of the procedure available to the public. Copies of any departmental complaint forms shall be available in […]