Bill Sponsors
Raptakis, Patalano, Appollonio, Famiglietti, Tikoian, and Ciccone
Committee
Senate Judiciary
Summary
Select
This legislation amends Rhode Island traffic laws regarding the use of flashing lights on vehicles. Specifically, it grants permission for roadside assistance vehicles operated by the American Automobile Association (AAA) to use flashing amber lights on both the front and rear of their vehicles. These lights are permitted to be activated only when the vehicle is actively providing assistance to a disabled vehicle or transporting one. This change aligns AAA vehicles with other service vehicles, such as tow trucks and utility trucks, which are already permitted to use amber caution lights for safety.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Increases workplace safety for roadside assistance workers by making them more visible to oncoming traffic, potentially reducing accidents and injuries.
- Enhances general public safety by clearly identifying road hazards, helping to prevent secondary accidents involving passing motorists.
- Standardizes safety protocols by ensuring that roadside assistance providers have access to the same warning equipment as public utility and emergency vehicles.
Cons for Progressives
- Explicitly names a specific private corporation (AAA) in state statutes, potentially creating a precedent of corporate favoritism rather than creating a broad category for all legitimate roadside assistance providers.
- Does not mandate specific training on the proper use of these lights, leaving safety standards largely up to the private employer.
- The $25 permit fee adds a minor financial barrier that, while negligible for a large corporation like AAA, supports a system of pay-to-play regulation.
Pros for Conservatives
- Empowers a private entity to manage its own safety measures and protect its property without requiring direct government intervention or public resources.
- Enhances public safety on the roadways by clarifying the rules of the road for private service vehicles, potentially reducing traffic congestion caused by accidents.
- Facilitates business operations for a major service provider by removing regulatory ambiguity regarding vehicle equipment.
Cons for Conservatives
- Codifies a specific brand name into law, which can be viewed as the government picking winners and losers in the free market rather than setting a neutral standard.
- Maintains a permit fee structure ($25), essentially taxing a private business for the privilege of using necessary safety equipment.
- Represents unnecessary legislative micromanagement of vehicle equipment that could be handled through broader, less specific administrative regulations.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- American Automobile Association (AAA)
- Roadside assistance workers
- Motorists
- Law enforcement
- Tow truck operators
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
None
Revenue Generated
$25/permit
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Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 01/09/2026 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Section 31-24-31 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-24 entitled "Lighting Equipment and Reflectors" is hereby amended to read as follows:
31-24-31. Flashing lights — Forward viewing or rotary beam lights.
(a) Flashing lights are prohibited, except on an authorized emergency vehicle, school bus, snow-removal equipment, or on any vehicle as a means for indicating a right or left turn. However, the requirements of § 31-24-33 shall be deemed to be satisfied if the vehicle is equipped with lamps at the front mounted at the same level, displaying simultaneously flashing white or amber lights, and at the rear mounted at the same level, and displaying simultaneously flashing red lights, all of which lights shall be visible from a distance of not less than five hundred feet (500′).
(b) Forward viewing or rotating beam lights may be installed on and shall be restricted to the following categories of vehicles, and these lights shall be of color designated:
(1) Emergency response vehicles of any fire, rescue, or ambulance department, fire chiefs, assistant fire chiefs, deputy chiefs, captains; any privately owned vehicle of any authorized volunteer member of a fire, rescue, or ambulance department; emergency management agency directors, assistant directors, assistant medical examiners and/or forensic pathologists of the office of state medical examiners; rescue vehicles, emergency response vehicles of the department of environmental management and the office of the state fire marshal; school buses; hospital emergency response vehicles; vehicles owned and operated by the Rhode Island Disaster Medical Assistance Team, Inc. and/or its affiliates or subsidiary organizations; and two (2) American Red Cross disaster vehicles: Red, white and/or alternating flashing white;
(2) Wrecker trucks, service station trucks, state and town safety and maintenance vehicles; snowplows and tractors; light company trucks, telephone company trucks, water company trucks, oil company trucks, and other utilities’ trucks; vehicles of television, radio and press photographers; newspaper motor route carriers; rural mail carriers; all motor-propelled vehicles owned by the Northern Rhode Island REACT (radio emergency associated citizens team); all motor-propelled vehicles owned by or under contract to the Rhode Island department of transportation when on official state business; and vehicles marking the beginning and end of funeral processions: Amber, provided, however, that wrecker and transportation vehicles operated pursuant to a public utilities commission license, and roadside assistance vehicles of any type operated for that purpose by the American Automobile Association shall be permitted to use flashing amber lights at the front and rear of the vehicle, to be activated only in the course of providing assistance to or transportation for a disabled vehicle. A fee of twenty-five dollars ($25) shall be charged for the issuance of a flashing lights permit to every vehicle identified in this subsection, with the exception of flashing lights permits issued to state, town or fire district safety and maintenance vehicles, which shall not be charged a fee.
(3) Police units, state and local: Center rotating beam lights: Blue or red; Outboard mounted lights: Blue or red.
(4) Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
31-24-31. Flashing lights — Forward viewing or rotary beam lights.
(a) Flashing lights are prohibited, except on an authorized emergency vehicle, school bus, snow-removal equipment, or on any vehicle as a means for indicating a right or left turn. However, the requirements of § 31-24-33 shall be deemed to be satisfied if the vehicle is equipped with lamps at the front mounted at the same level, displaying simultaneously flashing white or amber lights, and at the rear mounted at the same level, and displaying simultaneously flashing red lights, all of which lights shall be visible from a distance of not less than five hundred feet (500′).
(b) Forward viewing or rotating beam lights may be installed on and shall be restricted to the following categories of vehicles, and these lights shall be of color designated:
(1) Emergency response vehicles of any fire, rescue, or ambulance department, fire chiefs, assistant fire chiefs, deputy chiefs, captains; any privately owned vehicle of any authorized volunteer member of a fire, rescue, or ambulance department; emergency management agency directors, assistant directors, assistant medical examiners and/or forensic pathologists of the office of state medical examiners; rescue vehicles, emergency response vehicles of the department of environmental management and the office of the state fire marshal; school buses; hospital emergency response vehicles; vehicles owned and operated by the Rhode Island Disaster Medical Assistance Team, Inc. and/or its affiliates or subsidiary organizations; and two (2) American Red Cross disaster vehicles: Red, white and/or alternating flashing white;
(2) Wrecker trucks, service station trucks, state and town safety and maintenance vehicles; snowplows and tractors; light company trucks, telephone company trucks, water company trucks, oil company trucks, and other utilities’ trucks; vehicles of television, radio and press photographers; newspaper motor route carriers; rural mail carriers; all motor-propelled vehicles owned by the Northern Rhode Island REACT (radio emergency associated citizens team); all motor-propelled vehicles owned by or under contract to the Rhode Island department of transportation when on official state business; and vehicles marking the beginning and end of funeral processions: Amber, provided, however, that wrecker and transportation vehicles operated pursuant to a public utilities commission license, and roadside assistance vehicles of any type operated for that purpose by the American Automobile Association shall be permitted to use flashing amber lights at the front and rear of the vehicle, to be activated only in the course of providing assistance to or transportation for a disabled vehicle. A fee of twenty-five dollars ($25) shall be charged for the issuance of a flashing lights permit to every vehicle identified in this subsection, with the exception of flashing lights permits issued to state, town or fire district safety and maintenance vehicles, which shall not be charged a fee.
(3) Police units, state and local: Center rotating beam lights: Blue or red; Outboard mounted lights: Blue or red.
(4) Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.