§ 31-2-3 - Enforcement duties of administrator. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 31-2-3

   § 31-2-3  Enforcement duties ofadministrator. – (a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is vested with thepower and is charged with the duty of observing, administering and enforcingthe provisions of chapters 1 – 50 of this title and of all laws regulatingthe operation of vehicles, or the use of the highways, the enforcement oradministration of which is now or hereafter vested in the division of motorvehicles.

   (b) The administrator shall appoint any subordinates he orshe may require for the proper performance of his or her duties. Theadministrator and any subordinates designated by the administrator shall haveand exercise throughout this state the same authority to make arrests forviolations of statutes relating to motor vehicles and to enforce those statutesas police or constables have in their respective jurisdictions, including thepower of arrest without warrant for any violation of title 31. Theadministrator and any subordinates designated by the administrator may serveall process lawfully issued by the administrator. Whenever a complaint is madeof any violation of the provisions of the aforementioned chapters by theadministrator of the division of motor vehicles, or those subordinatesdesignated by him or her to enforce these provisions, he or she shall not berequired to furnish surety for cost or be liable for cost upon any complaint.The administrator and any subordinates he or she may designate may bear and usefirearms and may be equipped with uniforms as prescribed by the administratorof motor vehicles in accordance with the policing and enforcing provisions asprescribed by this section.

   (c) The administrator may provide for training for thosepersons designated with authority to make arrests and shall issue to each suchperson credentials showing his or her identity and these credentials shall becarried upon their person while in the discharge of his or her duties.

   (d) At no time may any subordinate authorized to make arrestsstop a motorist for any violation of the motor vehicle law while the motoristis operating a vehicle upon any highway of this state, unless that subordinateis operating or riding in a division of motor vehicles vehicle which is plainlymarked "Division of motor vehicles" or unless the motorist is fleeing frompursuit by a division of motor vehicles officer.

   (e) The administrator may adopt any further regulations thathe or she may deem necessary to implement this section.