Rhode Island law sets added penalties for road rage crimes

Courts can impose added prison time, a fine, and loss of driving privileges for felonies caused by road rage. This covers any felony caused by road rage. Road rage means intentionally aggressive, harassing, threatening, intimidating, or dangerous behavior by a driver or passenger toward another driver or passenger on public roads or their publicly accessible extensions. The person must be convicted or enter a guilty or no-contest plea. Road rage must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. The added felony sentence includes a mandatory fine of at least $1,000. Added prison time runs after the sentence for the underlying crime. A license can be suspended for up to five years or revoked for up to two years. The law takes effect upon passage.

Courts can impose an extra fine, a license suspension, or both for misdemeanors caused by road rage. This covers any misdemeanor caused by intentionally aggressive, harassing, threatening, intimidating, or dangerous behavior by a driver or passenger toward another driver or passenger on public roads or their publicly accessible extensions. The person must be convicted or enter a guilty or no-contest plea. Road rage must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. The law takes effect upon passage.

Prosecutors must give notice when seeking road rage penalties, and courts must allow both sides to present evidence at sentencing. These rules cover misdemeanor and felony cases where prosecutors seek added road rage penalties. The judge or jury must find beyond a reasonable doubt that road rage caused the crime before the added sentencing rules apply. Road rage is grounds for added punishment, rather than a separate crime. Prosecutors must include notice in the charging papers or notify the court and defendant no later than the first pretrial conference. The hearing follows a guilty finding or a guilty or no-contest plea.