Rhode IslandLaw limits when work machinery counts as mobile equipment on highways
Road and construction machinery counts as mobile equipment only when used on a highway for active work in a work zone or to cross the road there.
What it does
Road and construction machinery counts as mobile equipment only when its highway use is incidental to active work in a work zone or crossing the road there. Driving down a highway under its own power does not qualify.
Argument forOperators may have a clearer boundary for using machinery on highways while doing active work or crossing within a work zone.
Argument againstOperators may need to transport machinery another way between work sites because driving it down a highway under its own power does not count as incidental use.
More detail
The law defines when a vehicle’s highway use counts as incidental for the mobile equipment definition. The definition covers vehicles used mainly for work, including road and construction machinery, but excludes specified vehicles designed to carry people or property, including house trailers and dump trucks. The vehicle must not be designed or used mainly to carry people or property, and highway use must be incidental. Incidental use means actively doing work in an active work zone or crossing a highway within one. Traveling down a highway under the vehicle’s own power is excluded. The act takes effect upon passage.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 2306/23/2026 Signed by Governor Dan McKeeBecame Law
- Jun 1806/18/2026 Transmitted to GovernorTo Governor
- Jun 806/08/2026 House passed in concurrencePassed House
- Vote recorded IN CONCURRENCE. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 506/05/2026 Placed on House Calendar (06/08/2026)Minor
- Jun 406/04/2026 Committee recommends passage in concurrenceMinor
- May 2905/29/2026 Scheduled for consideration (06/04/2026)
- May 2805/28/2026 Referred to House State Government & ElectionsMinor
- May 2705/27/2026 Senate read and passedPassed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- May 2205/22/2026 Placed on Senate Calendar (05/27/2026)Minor
- May 2105/21/2026 Committee recommends passageMinor
- May 1505/15/2026 Scheduled for consideration (05/21/2026)
- Mar 1203/12/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further studyMinor
- Mar 903/09/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/12/2026)
- Mar 503/05/2026 Introduced, referred to Senate Housing and Municipal GovernmentIntroduced
Transportation