R.I. Gen. Laws
Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-12-7 (2026)

Privileges allowed emergency vehicles

✓ text as last checked Sept. 2026 (this copy records no edition or section history)
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The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle may:

(1) Park or stand, irrespective of the provisions of any law;

(2) Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation;

(3) Exceed the prima facie speed limits so long as he or she does not endanger life or property;

(4) Disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specified directions.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3 cases, 1976–2010 · leading case: Roberts v. Kettelle, 356 A.2d 207 (R.I. 1976).
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Roberts v. Kettelle, 356 A.2d 207 (R.I. 1976). · cites it 3× “The trial justice did use the conjunctive “and” instead of the disjunctive “or” as he alluded to the statute which lists the times when a driver of an authorized emergency vehicle can exercise the privileges delineated in §31-12-7, but he also informed the jury that the police…”
Seide v. State, 875 A.2d 1259 (R.I. 2005). · cites it 2× “General Laws 1956 § 31-12-6(a) provides: "The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, when responding to an emergency call or when in the pursuit of an alleged violator of the law or when responding to but not upon returning from a fire alarm, may exercise the privileges set…”
Delgado v. Pawtucket Police Dep't, 747 F. Supp. 2d 341 (D.R.I. 2010). · cites it 5× “Laws § 31-12-6 states as follows: The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, when responding to an emergency call or when in the pursuit of an alleged violator of the law or when responding to but not upon returning from a fire alarm, may exercise the privileges set forth in…”
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