Section 31-21.1-1. – Short title.

§ 31-21.1-1. Short title. This Chapter may be cited as the “Traffic Stops Statistics Act.” History of Section.P.L. 2000, ch. 251, § 1.

Section 31-21.1-2. – Declaration and policy.

§ 31-21.1-2. Declaration and policy. The general assembly declares that the use of racial profiling for stopping or searching motorists on our public highways is against public policy and violates the civil rights of the motorist. For purposes of this chapter, “racial profiling” means the detention, interdiction or other disparate treatment of an individual on […]

Section 31-21.1-3. – Advisory committee — Establishment — Duties.

§ 31-21.1-3. Advisory committee — Establishment — Duties. (a) There is established an advisory committee to be called the “traffic stop study advisory committee.” The committee shall consist of thirteen (13) members: (1) Three (3) of whom shall be from the house of representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to […]

Section 31-21.1-4. – Traffic stop study.

§ 31-21.1-4. Traffic stop study. (a) The attorney general is authorized to and shall conduct a study of routine traffic stops by the Rhode Island state police and each municipal police department. The study shall include the collection and analysis of the data received from the police department pursuant to this section, which shall include […]

Section 31-21.1-5. – Adoption of written policies.

§ 31-21.1-5. Adoption of written policies. (a) Not later than ninety (90) days after January 1, 2004, each police department and the state police shall adopt written policies which shall prohibit the use of racial profiling as the sole reason for stopping or searching motorists for routine traffic stops. (b) Copies of the policies adopted […]

Section 31-21.1-6. – Data collection and use.

§ 31-21.1-6. Data collection and use. (a) Except as otherwise specified in this chapter, data acquired under this section shall be used only for: (1) research or statistical purposes; or (2) in any legal or administrative proceeding to establish an inference of discrimination on the basis of particular identifying characteristics, by court order. All data […]

Section 31-21.1-7. – Penalties for refusal to act.

§ 31-21.1-7. Penalties for refusal to act. An organization chartered for the purpose of combating discrimination, racism, or of safeguarding civil liberties, or of promoting full, free, or equal employment opportunities, may seek appropriate relief in a civil action against any police department for failing to collect or transmit the data as required in this […]